Natural grape extracts regulate colon cancer cells malignancy

Nutr Cancer. 2015;67(3):494-503. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2015.1004591. Epub 2015 Feb 23.

Abstract

Natural dietary components are evolutionary-selected molecules able to control inflammation and cancerous transformation and progression. Because many studies assessed the beneficial properties of key molecules extracted from grapes, we aimed at investigating the properties of Liofenol™, a natural red wine lyophilized extract, devoid of alcohol and composed by a miscellaneous of components (polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins). We proved that the colon cancer cell line HCT116 responded to Liofenol™ treatment by reducing their proliferation, in association with an increase of p53 and p21 cell cycle gate keepers. Liofenol™ increased dihydroceramides, sphingolipid mediators involved in cell cycle arrest and reduced proliferation rate. We observed a strong induction of antioxidant response, with the activation of the transcriptional factor Nrf2, involved in redox homeostasis and differentiation, without altering tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy. Liofenol™ induced an important morphology change in HCT116 cells, migration inhibition, undifferentiated stem/stem-like cells markers downregulation, and E-cadherin downregulation, interested in epithelia to mesenchymal malignant transition. We conclude that lyophilized grape extract, at dose comparable to putative dietary doses, can activate molecular pathways, involving Nrf2 signaling and the modulation of structural and signaling sphingolipid mediators that cooperate in promoting differentiation and reducing proliferation of digestive tract cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / analysis
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / genetics
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Sphingolipids / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / analysis
  • Vitis*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • CDKN1A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • NFE2L2 protein, human
  • Plant Extracts
  • Sphingolipids
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53