Decursinol angelate blocks transmigration and inflammatory activation of cancer cells through inhibition of PI3K, ERK and NF-κB activation

Inflammation is known to be closely associated with the development of cancer. Decursinol angelate (DA), a coumarin compound isolated from Angelica gigas and related compounds have been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory activities. However, little is known about their effects on the inflammatory processes associated with cancer. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of DA was evaluated in cancer cell lines with respect to cellular invasion through the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as cytokine, cell adhesion molecules and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9. DA inhibited the invasion of fibrosarcoma cell line, HT1080 and breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231 in the Matrigel invasion assay. DA-mediated suppression of cancer cell invasion was accomplished by suppression of PI3K activity known to be associated with cytoskeletal rearrangement related to cellular migration. DA also suppressed the adhesion of cancer cells to ECM mediated by down-regulation of β1-integrin expression levels. Furthermore, DA inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and MMP-9 through suppression of PI3K, ERK and NF-κB activation. These results demonstrate that DA suppresses invasion and inflammatory activation of cancer cells through modulation of PI3K/AKT, ERK and NF-κB. These anti-inflammatory activities of DA may contribute to its anti-cancer activity.