1'-Acetoxychavicol Acetate from Alpinia galanga Represses Proliferation and Invasion, and Induces Apoptosis via HER2-signaling in Endocrine-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells.

Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients have a good prognosis, but 30% of these patients will experience recurrence due to the development of resistance through various signaling pathways. This study aimed to evaluate the mode of anticancer effects of 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate, which is isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia galanga in estrogen receptor positive (MCF7) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressed (MCF7/HER2), and endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells (MCF7/LCC2 and MCF7/LCC9). 1′-Acetoxychavicol acetate showed antiproliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion and had higher potency in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressed cell lines. This was associated with down-regulation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, pERK1/2, pAKT, estrogen receptor coactivator, cyclin D1, and MYC proto-oncogene while in vivo and significant reduction in the tumor mass of 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate-treated zebrafish-engrafted breast cancer groups. The anti-invasive effects of 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate were confirmed in vitro by the matrigel invasion assay and with down-regulation of C – X-C chemokine receptor type 4, urokinase plasminogen activator, vascular endothelial growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor 2 genes. The down-regulation of urokinase plasminogen activator and fibroblast growth factor 2 proteins was also validated by molecular docking analysis. Moreover, 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate-treated cells exhibited lower expression levels of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 proteins in addition to enhanced stress-activated kinases/c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 and poly-ADP ribose polymerase cleavage, indicating apoptotic cell induction by 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate. Moreover, 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate had higher potency in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressed cell lines regarding its inhibition on human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, pAKT, pERK1/2, PSer118, and PSer167-ERα proteins. Our findings suggest 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate mediates its anti-cancer effects via human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 signaling pathway.