Mefloquine exerts anticancer activity in prostate cancer cells via ROS-mediated modulation of Akt, ERK, JNK and AMPK signaling

  • Authors:
    • Kun-Huang Yan
    • Chih-Jung Yao
    • Chi-Hao Hsiao
    • Ke-Hsun Lin
    • Yung-Wei Lin
    • Yu-Ching Wen
    • Chung-Chi Liu
    • Ming-De Yan
    • Shuang‑En Chuang
    • Gi-Ming Lai
    • Liang-Ming Lee
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 22, 2013     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2013.1211
  • Pages: 1541-1545
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Abstract

Mefloquine (MQ) is a prophylactic anti-malarial drug. Previous studies have shown that MQ induces oxidative stress in vitro. Evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be used as a therapeutic modality to kill cancer cells. This study investigated whether MQ also inhibits prostate cancer (PCa) cell growth. We used sulforhodamine B (SRB) staining to determine cell viability. MQ has a highly selective cytotoxicity that inhibits PCa cell growth. The antitumor effect was most significant when examined using a colony formation assay. MQ also induces hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), as well as ROS generation. The blockade of MQ-induced anticancer effects by N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) pre-treatment confirmed the role of ROS. This indicates that the MQ-induced anticancer effects are caused primarily by increased ROS generation. Moreover, we observed that MQ-mediated ROS simultaneously downregulated Akt phosphorylation and activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling in PC3 cells. These findings provide insights for further anticancer therapeutic options.
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May 2013
Volume 5 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Yan K, Yao C, Hsiao C, Lin K, Lin Y, Wen Y, Liu C, Yan M, Chuang SE, Lai G, Lai G, et al: Mefloquine exerts anticancer activity in prostate cancer cells via ROS-mediated modulation of Akt, ERK, JNK and AMPK signaling. Oncol Lett 5: 1541-1545, 2013
APA
Yan, K., Yao, C., Hsiao, C., Lin, K., Lin, Y., Wen, Y. ... Lee, L. (2013). Mefloquine exerts anticancer activity in prostate cancer cells via ROS-mediated modulation of Akt, ERK, JNK and AMPK signaling. Oncology Letters, 5, 1541-1545. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2013.1211
MLA
Yan, K., Yao, C., Hsiao, C., Lin, K., Lin, Y., Wen, Y., Liu, C., Yan, M., Chuang, S., Lai, G., Lee, L."Mefloquine exerts anticancer activity in prostate cancer cells via ROS-mediated modulation of Akt, ERK, JNK and AMPK signaling". Oncology Letters 5.5 (2013): 1541-1545.
Chicago
Yan, K., Yao, C., Hsiao, C., Lin, K., Lin, Y., Wen, Y., Liu, C., Yan, M., Chuang, S., Lai, G., Lee, L."Mefloquine exerts anticancer activity in prostate cancer cells via ROS-mediated modulation of Akt, ERK, JNK and AMPK signaling". Oncology Letters 5, no. 5 (2013): 1541-1545. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2013.1211