Conclusion
Fucoxanthin exerts anti-tumor activity in ovarian cancer, possibly via inactivation of the STAT3/c-Myc signaling pathway, and thus provides a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Methods
In this study, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, wound healing, as well as transwell assays were employed to assess the malignant cell phenotypes, including cell proliferation, migration and invasion in ovarian cancer. The expression of related proteins was evaluated using western blot. Additionally, the glucose uptake, intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), extracellular acidifications rates (ECAR) and glycolysis-associated enzymes were measured to evaluate glycolysis level.
Results
It was demonstrated that fucoxanthin restrained the proliferative, migratory and invasive capabilities in both A2780 and OVCAR3 cells. Fucoxanthin could inhibit glycolysis and inactivate signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3)/c-Myc signaling. In addition, Colivelin, a STAT3 activator, greatly weakened the suppressive effects of fucoxanthin on ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis.