Breast cancer is the leading cause of global cancer incidence and breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) have been identified as the target to overcome breast cancer in patients. In this study, we purified a BCSC inhibitor from Dendropanax morbiferus H.Lév. leaves through several open column and high-performance liquid chromatography via activity-based purification. The purified cancer stem cell (CSC) inhibitor was identified as dihydroconiferyl ferulate using nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Dihydroconiferyl ferulate inhibited the proliferation and mammosphere formation of breast cancer cells and reduced the population of CD44high/CD24low cells. Dihydroconiferyl ferulate also induced apoptosis, inhibited the growth of mammospheres and reduced the level of total and nuclear EGFR protein. It suppressed the EGFR levels, the interaction of Stat3 with EGFR, and c-Myc protein levels. Our findings show that dihydroconiferyl ferulate reduced the level of nuclear epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and induced apoptosis of BCSCs through nEGFR/Stat3-dependent c-Myc deregulation. Dihydroconiferyl ferulate exhibits potential as an anti-CSC agent through nEGFR/Stat3/c-Myc signaling.
Keywords: Stat3; breast cancer stem cells; c-Myc; dihydroconiferyl ferulate; nuclear EGFR.