Fucoxanthin suppresses the malignant progression of ovarian cancer by inactivating STAT3/c-Myc signaling.

OBJECTIVES: Ovarian cancer is a frequent malignancy among women. Fucoxanthin has been discovered to exert anti-tumor impacts on numerous tumors. Herein, the current work was carried out to identify the biological function of fucoxanthin on the malignant progression of ovarian cancer and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: In this study, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, wound healing, as well as transwell assays were employed to assess the malignant cell phenotypes, including cell proliferation, migration and invasion in ovarian cancer. The expression of related proteins was evaluated using western blot. Additionally, the glucose uptake, intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), extracellular acidifications rates (ECAR) and glycolysis-associated enzymes were measured to evaluate glycolysis level. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that fucoxanthin restrained the proliferative, migratory and invasive capabilities in both A2780 and OVCAR3 cells. Fucoxanthin could inhibit glycolysis and inactivate signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3)/c-Myc signaling. In addition, Colivelin, a STAT3 activator, greatly weakened the suppressive effects of fucoxanthin on ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. CONCLUSION: Fucoxanthin exerts anti-tumor activity in ovarian cancer, possibly via inactivation of the STAT3/c-Myc signaling pathway, and thus provides a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ovarian cancer.