Anticancer activity of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone in melanoma cells via downregulation of α-MSH/cAMP/MITF pathway

Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancer and highly resistant to most conventional treatment. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer effects and mechanisms of action of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a monophenolic flavone, in melanoma cells. At concentrations not exhibiting cytotoxicity, 7,8-DHF potently inhibited growth and clonogenic survival of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. Furthermore, it significantly blocked migration and invasion of the metastatic melanoma cells. We also observed that 7,8-DHF exhibits anti-melanogenic activity through inhibition of tyrosinase activity in α-MSH-stimulating condition. Notably, the suppressive activities of 7,8-DHF on melanoma progression were associated with the downregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and its main downstream transcription targets, including hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) and c-MET, by a decrease in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level. In addition, combination treatment with 7,8-DHF and resveratrol, a known therapeutic agent against melanoma, had greater anticancer activities and MITF inhibition than treatment with each single agent in α-MSH-treated B16F10 cells. Collectively, these findings may contribute to the potential application of 7,8-DHF in the prevention and treatment of malignant melanoma.