PT93, a novel caffeic acid amide derivative, suppresses glioblastoma cells migration, proliferation and MMP-2/−9 expression

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant type of primary brain tumor in adults and can diffusely infiltrate adjacent normal tissue. GBM is therefore rarely cured by surgery or radiation therapy. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in tissue remodeling and numerous other physiological progresses. The MMPs MMP-2 and MMP-9 are associated with the invasion ability of GBM. PT93 is a novel caffeic acid amide derivative that was first synthesized in 2013. In the present study, the human GBM T98G, U87 and U251 cell lines and the normal mouse neuron HT22 cell line were used to investigate the anticancer and cytotoxic effects of PT93 in vitro. The cytotoxicity of PT93 was measured using MTT and lactate dehydrogenase assays. The anti-proliferation effect was tested using a cell colony formation assay. Gelatin zymography analysis and a scratch test were used to investigate the anti-migration mechanism of PT93. Western blot analysis was used to measure the expression of MMP-2/-9. The experimental results showed that PT93 suppressed the proliferation of T98G cells, and showed cytotoxicity effects at high concentration in T98G, U87, U251 and HT22 cell lines. Furthermore, PT93 limited the migration ability of the cells and inhibited the extracellular MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity of T98G and U251 cells. Finally, the present study confirmed that PT93 affects the level of MMP-2/-9 expression in T98G cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The present study indicates that PT93, as a novel caffeic acid amide derivative, may be used in the treatment of GBM.