Centchroman prevents metastatic colonization of breast cancer cells and disrupts angiogenesis via inhibition of RAC1/PAK1/β-catenin signaling axis

Sajid Khan, Samriddhi Shukla, Mohammad Farhan, Sonam Sinha, Amar Deep Lakra, Dhanamjai Penta, Anbarasu Kannan, Syed Musthapa Meeran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims: We have previously reported that Centchroman (CC), an oral contraceptive drug, inhibits breast cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, we investigated whether CC inhibits local invasion of tumor cells and/or their metastatic colonization with detailed underlying mechanisms. Main methods: The effect of CC on the experimental metastasis and spontaneous metastasis was demonstrated by using tail-vein and orthotopic 4T1-syngeneic mouse tumor models, respectively. The anti-angiogenic potential of CC was evaluated using well established in vitro and in vivo models. The role of RAC1/PAK1/β-catenin signaling axis in the metastasis was investigated and validated using siRNA-mediated knockdown of PAK1 as well as by pharmacological PAK1-inhibitor. Key findings: The oral administration of CC significantly suppressed the formation of metastatic lung nodules in the 4T1-syngeneic orthotopic as well as experimental metastatic models. More importantly, CC treatment suppressed the tube formation and migration capacities of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and inhibited pre-existing vasculature as well as the formation of neovasculature. The suppression of migration and invasion capacities of metastatic breast cancer cells upon CC treatment was associated with the inhibition of small GTPases (Rac1 and Cdc42) concomitant with the downregulation of PAK1 and downstream β-catenin signaling. In addition, CC upregulated the expression of miR-145, which is known to target PAK1. Significance: This study warrants the repurposing of CC as a potential therapeutic agent against metastatic breast cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number117976
JournalLife Sciences
Volume256
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Angiogenesis
  • Breast cancer
  • Centchroman
  • Metastasis
  • PAK1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

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