Methoxychalcone induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human hormone-resistant prostate cancer cells through PI 3-kinase-independent inhibition of mTOR pathways

Molecular targeted approaches to cancer therapy and prevention using chalcones

There is an emerging paradigm shift in oncology that seeks to emphasize molecularly targeted approaches for cancer prevention and therapy. Chalcones (1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-ones), naturally-occurring compounds with widespread distribution in spices, tea, beer, fruits and vegetables, consist of open-chain flavonoids in which the two aromatic rings are joined by a three-carbon α, β-unsaturated carbonyl system. Due to their structural diversity, relative ease of chemical manipulation and reaction of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety with cysteine residues in proteins, some lead chalcones from both natural products and synthesis have been identified in a variety of screening assays for modulating important pathways or molecular targets in cancers. These pathways and targets that are affected by chalcones include MDM2/p53, tubulin, proteasome, NF-kappa B, TRIAL/death receptors and mitochondria mediated apoptotic pathways, cell cycle, STAT3, AP-1, NRF2, AR, ER, PPAR-γ and β-catenin/Wnt. Compared to current cancer targeted therapeutic drugs, chalcones have the advantages of being inexpensive, easily available and less toxic; the ease of synthesis of chalcones from substituted benzaldehydes and acetophenones also makes them an attractive drug scaffold. Therefore, this review is focused on molecular targets of chalcones and their potential implications in cancer prevention and therapy.

Anticancer cardamonin analogs suppress the activation of NF-kappaB pathway in lung cancer cells

NF-kappaB pathway has been proven to be critical to survival of lung cancer cells, and many natural products from plants were shown to inhibit the activation of this pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects of two cardamonin analogs, 4,4'-dihydroxylchalcone (DHC) and 4,4'-dihydroxy-2'-methoxychalcone (DHMC), on survival of lung cancer cells and the involved mechanisms. MTT assay revealed that the two compounds potently decreased the survival of immortalized and primary lung cancer cells. DHC and DHMC were able to induce apoptosis in A549 and NCI-H460 cells. Immunoblotting, immunofluorescent staining, and luciferase reporter further demonstrated that the two compounds suppressed the activation of NF-kappaB pathway in lung cancer cells. PMA-mediated NF-kappaB reactivation abrogated the effect of DHC and DHMC on lung cancer cells. DHC and DHMC were also shown to suppress the growth of A549 xenograft in mice. Collectively, we verified two cardamonin analogs as novel compounds suppressing NF-kappaB signaling for lung cancer therapy.