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1403P-3 is a novel anthracenedione derivative isolated from the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungus from the South China Sea. In previous studies, 1403P-3 was found to exhibit potent cytotoxicity against human cancer cells, but its molecular target and the mechanisms mediating its cytotoxicity remain unknown. In this study, we showed that 1403P-3 markedly inhibited the survival of the human breast cancer cells MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ of 9.5 and 7.6 µM, respectively. Apoptosis induced by 1403P-3 was detected, as indicated by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, elevated activated caspase-8 and -9, and cleavaged PARP determined by Western blot analysis. It is of note that the phosphorylation level of Akt was significantly reduced in 1403P-3-treated cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Taken together, our data demonstrated that 1403P-3 induced breast cancer cell apoptosis by blocking Akt activation, suggesting that 1403P-3 may be a promising candidate compound for anti-tumor drug development.

Background and Purpose: The aims of this study were to investigate the anti-cancer activity of SZ-685C, an anthracycline analogue isolated from marine-derived mangrove endophytic fungi, and to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying such activity.Experimental Approach: The effect of SZ-685C on the viability of cancer cell lines was investigated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. SZ-685C-induced apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay and analysis of caspase activation. The effect of SZ-685C on the Akt/FOXO pathway was studied using Western blotting analysis, and the in vivo anti-tumour efficacy was examined in an MDA-MB-435 breast cancer xenograft model.Key Results: SZ-685C suppressed the proliferation of six cancer cell lines derived from human breast cancer, prostate cancer, glioma and hepatoma (IC(50) values ranged from 3.0 to 9.6 microM) and the growth of breast cancer xenografts in mice. SZ-685C had a direct apoptosis-inducing effect through both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways, as shown by activation of caspase-8 and 9 as well as effector caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream effectors, forkhead box protein O1 and forkhead box protein O3a, was down-regulated in SZ-685C-treated cancer cells. Furthermore, the pro-apoptotic protein Bim was up-regulated by SZ-685C treatment consistent with FOXO dephosphorylation.Conclusions and Implications: SZ-685C could induce apoptosis through the Akt/FOXO pathway, which consequently leads to the observed anti-tumour effect both in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that SZ-685C may be a potentially promising Akt inhibitor and anti-cancer drug candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]