Cucurbitacin E inhibits the proliferation of glioblastoma cells via FAK/AKT/GSK3β pathway

  • Authors:
    • Wen Chen
    • Fuhong Liu
    • Xingcheng Lin
    • Lehui Li
    • Wenting Chen
    • Tiantian Zhang
    • Yuwei Liu
    • Liyan Niu
    • Yangbo Zhang
    • Ping Hu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 2, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2023.8658
  • Article Number: 221
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Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary intracranial tumor in the brain with high growth rate and high mortality rate. Cucurbitacin E (CUE), a tetracyclic triterpene compound derived from species of the genus Cucurbita, has been demonstrated to display significant antitumor effects on various malignancies. In the present study, the effects of CUE on GBM and its underlying molecular mechanisms were explored. The data revealed that CUE inhibited the proliferation of the GBM cell lines U87‑MG and U251‑MG in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. Mechanistically, CUE reduced the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), protein kinase B (AKT), and glycogen synthase kinase‑3β (GSK3β) at both basal and epidermal growth factor (EGF)‑induced levels. Moreover, CUE inhibited the proliferation of U87‑MG and U251‑MG cells by blocking EGF‑induced phosphorylation of the FAK, AKT and GSK3β. Subsequently, CUE reduced the expression of cyclinD1 and cyclinB1. Collectively, these results indicated that CUE inhibited the proliferation of U87‑MG and U251‑MG cells by suppressing the FAK/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, which also suggested that CUE has potential application in treating GBM.
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December-2023
Volume 50 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Chen W, Liu F, Lin X, Li L, Chen W, Zhang T, Liu Y, Niu L, Zhang Y, Hu P, Hu P, et al: Cucurbitacin E inhibits the proliferation of glioblastoma cells via FAK/AKT/GSK3β pathway. Oncol Rep 50: 221, 2023.
APA
Chen, W., Liu, F., Lin, X., Li, L., Chen, W., Zhang, T. ... Hu, P. (2023). Cucurbitacin E inhibits the proliferation of glioblastoma cells via FAK/AKT/GSK3β pathway. Oncology Reports, 50, 221. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2023.8658
MLA
Chen, W., Liu, F., Lin, X., Li, L., Chen, W., Zhang, T., Liu, Y., Niu, L., Zhang, Y., Hu, P."Cucurbitacin E inhibits the proliferation of glioblastoma cells via FAK/AKT/GSK3β pathway". Oncology Reports 50.6 (2023): 221.
Chicago
Chen, W., Liu, F., Lin, X., Li, L., Chen, W., Zhang, T., Liu, Y., Niu, L., Zhang, Y., Hu, P."Cucurbitacin E inhibits the proliferation of glioblastoma cells via FAK/AKT/GSK3β pathway". Oncology Reports 50, no. 6 (2023): 221. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2023.8658