Hydroxytyrosol, a natural molecule from olive oil, suppresses the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells via inactivating AKT and nuclear factor-kappa B pathways

Cancer Lett. 2014 May 28;347(1):79-87. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.01.028. Epub 2014 Jan 31.

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of hydroxytyrosol (HT) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Our results show that HT could inhibit proliferation, induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human HCC cells. Mechanically, we found that HT could suppress the activation of AKT and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. HT also significantly inhibited the tumor growth, angiogenesis and the activation of AKT and NF-κB pathways in an orthotopic model of human HCC in vivo. These data suggest that HT may be a promising candidate agent for the treatment of HCC.

Keywords: AKT; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hydroxytyrosol; Mice; Nuclear factor-κB.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / enzymology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Division / drug effects*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Olive Oil
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / isolation & purification
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / pharmacology
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Olive Oil
  • Plant Oils
  • 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol