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Inhibitory effects of fucoxanthinol on the viability of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 are correlated with modulation of the NF-kappaB pathway

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Abstract

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid present in the chloroplasts of brown seaweeds. When ingested, it is metabolized mainly to fucoxanthinol in the gastrointestinal tract by digestive enzymes. These compounds have been shown to have many beneficial health effects. The present study was designed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of action of fucoxanthin and/or of its metabolite fucoxanthinol against viability of estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 and estrogen-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol reduced the viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners as a result of increased apoptosis. Furthermore, fucoxanthinol-induced apoptosis was more potent than that of fucoxanthin and correlated, for MDA-MB-231 cells, with inhibitory actions on members of the NF-κB pathway p65, p50, RelB, and p52. Being overexpressed and regulated by NF-κB in different types of cancers, the transcription factor SOX9 was also decreased at the nuclear level by fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol in MDA-MB-231. Taken together, the current results suggest that fucoxanthinol and fucoxanthin could be potentially effective for the treatment and/or prevention of different types of cancers, including breast cancer.

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Acknowledgments

The current work was funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) (#5250 to L.J.M.), the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) (#IAR2012 and IAR2013-029 to L.J.M.), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada (#386557-2012 to L.J.M.).

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that would prejudice there impartiality.

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  1. Biology Department, Université de Moncton, 18, avenue Antonine Maillet, Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Canada

    Arlette Rwigemera, Jean Mamelona & Luc J. Martin

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  1. Arlette Rwigemera
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  2. Jean Mamelona
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Correspondence to Luc J. Martin.

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Rwigemera, A., Mamelona, J. & Martin, L.J. Inhibitory effects of fucoxanthinol on the viability of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 are correlated with modulation of the NF-kappaB pathway. Cell Biol Toxicol 30, 157–167 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-014-9277-2

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