N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among women. Breast cancer cells may develop resistance to current chemotherapy, thus new chemotherapeutic agents are urgently needed. METHODS: A major number of drugs with anticancer activity have been isolated from plants. Herewith, we investigated for the first time the effect of N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin (CS), isolated from Centaurea seed on a drug-resistant breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cells. Viability and proliferation of the cells were examined with trypan blue exclusion assay and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Caspace-8, cell cycle, and CD24/CD44/CD56/ CD58/CD71/CD15 expression were tested with flow cytometry. RESULTS: Treatment with CS significantly reduced cell viability. Induction of cell death and cell cycle arrest was confirmed with flow cytometry. After treatment with CS, there was a dose-dependent decrease in CD24/CD44/CD58/CD71 expression, whereas there was no change in CD56 and CD15 expression. CONCLUSION: The treatment of breast cancer cells with CS may represent a novel therapeutic strategy and requires further investigation.

Antiproliferative and cytotoxic action of N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin in lung cancer cells.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related cases and cancer-associated deaths. Tumor cells frequently acquire chemoresistance and, due to that, new therapies are always needed in the fight against cancer. Pharmaceutical plants continue to offer novel compounds as anticancer therapies. METHODS: We studied the action of N-p-coumaroyl-serotonin (CS), a natural compound from Centaurea seed and safflower on a lung adenocarcinoma cell line. Cytotoxic or antiproliferative effect was studied using the MTT assay. Cell cycle, caspase-8 activation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and expression of CD15/CD56/CD24/CD44/CD58/CD71 were studied by flow cytometry. RESULTS: CS exterted antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity, independent of mitochondrial membrane disruption. This compound caused S phase arrest and a decrease in the expression of CD24/CD44/CD58/CD71. CONCLUSION: This is the first report on the in vitro action of CS against lung cancer, necessitating further studies towards its use as a potential anticancer agent.

Immunohistochemical study of MRP5 expression in meningiomas.

PURPOSE: Meningiomas are the most common benign intracranial tumor, accounting for 30% of all primary intracranial tumors. Although benign meningiomas rarely recur after a complete resection, anaplastic tumors are associated with high recurrence rate and unfavorable outcome. In the current study, we investigated the expression of the multidrug resistance protein 5 (MRP5) in patients with meningiomas. METHODS: We retrospectively studied twenty patients with meningiomas that were treated surgically in our institute over a 3-year period. MRP5 protein expression was determined immunohistochemically. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical expression of MRP5 was observed only in anaplastic meningiomas. No MRP5 expression was detected in benign or atypical meningiomas. No significant correlation was found between MRP5 expression and Ki-67 index. After a mean follow-up period of 23 months, there were 4 cases of tumor recurrence. No correlation was found between extent of resection and tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical MRP5 protein expression was observed only in anaplastic meningiomas. Further research is needed to clarify whether MRP5 is indicative of malignant pathological features in meningiomas and whether possible therapeutic implications exist.