Isoliquiritigenin suppresses pulmonary metastasis of mouse renal cell carcinoma

Cancer Lett. 2002 Sep 8;183(1):23-30. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(02)00113-1.

Abstract

Isoliquiritigenin is a chalcone isolated from licorice and shallots. The ability of isoliquiritigenin to suppress metastasis was examined in a pulmonary metastasis model of mouse renal cell carcinoma. Isoliquiritigenin significantly reduced pulmonary metastasis, without any weight loss or leukocytopenia. Isoliquiritigenin suppressed in vitro proliferation of carcinoma cells, potentiated nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, and facilitated cytotoxicity of splenic lymphocytes in vitro. These findings suggest activation of macrophages, activation of cytotoxicity of lymphocytes, and direct cytotoxicity as possible mechanisms of metastasis suppression by isoliquiritigenin. In addition, isoliquiritigenin prevented severe leukocytopenia caused by administration of 5-fluorouracil.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / prevention & control
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / secondary*
  • Chalcone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Chalcone / therapeutic use*
  • Chalcones
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Glycyrrhiza
  • Kidney Neoplasms
  • Leukopenia / prevention & control
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Lung Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / physiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Weight Loss / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Chalcones
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Chalcone
  • isoliquiritigenin
  • Fluorouracil