Open Access

Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the migration of esophageal cancer cells by inducing autophagy

  • Authors:
    • Xiao Chen
    • Lan-Ying He
    • Shu Lai
    • Yao He
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 6, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11955
  • Article Number: 94
  • Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a complex gastrointestinal malignancy and its global incidence rate ranks 7th among all cancer types. Due to its aggressive nature and the potential for early metastasis, the survival rates of patients with EC are poor. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is the primary active derivative of artemisinin, and, as well as its use as an anti‑malarial, DHA has also exhibited antitumor activity in various cancer models, such as cholangiocarcinoma, head and neck carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor effect of DHA in the treatment of EC remains poorly understood. The results of the present study demonstrated that DHA significantly inhibited the migration of TE‑1 and Eca‑109 EC cells in a dose‑dependent manner by activating autophagy. DHA treatment also significantly reversed epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) by downregulating the EMT‑associated markers, N‑cadherin and vimentin, and upregulating the expression of E‑cadherin. Mechanistically, DHA treatment decreased Akt phosphorylation and inhibited the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, leading to the activation of autophagy. The levels of the autophagy‑associated proteins were suppressed and DHA‑mediated inhibition of migration in EC cells was reversed when an active form of Akt was overexpressed. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the potential value of DHA in the treatment of EC, and revealed the underlying mechanism by which FDHA inhibits cellular migration.
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October-2020
Volume 20 Issue 4

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

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Spandidos Publications style
Chen X, He L, Lai S and He Y: Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the migration of esophageal cancer cells by inducing autophagy. Oncol Lett 20: 94, 2020
APA
Chen, X., He, L., Lai, S., & He, Y. (2020). Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the migration of esophageal cancer cells by inducing autophagy. Oncology Letters, 20, 94. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11955
MLA
Chen, X., He, L., Lai, S., He, Y."Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the migration of esophageal cancer cells by inducing autophagy". Oncology Letters 20.4 (2020): 94.
Chicago
Chen, X., He, L., Lai, S., He, Y."Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the migration of esophageal cancer cells by inducing autophagy". Oncology Letters 20, no. 4 (2020): 94. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11955