Cancer
Herbal Compound Indirubin Derivatives Kill Cancer Cells
By David Liu
Apr 18, 2005 - 7:57:00 PM

A study found that derivatives of indirubin, the active component of a Chinese herbal medicine Danggui Longhui Wan, can potently inhibit the growth of certain types of cancers.

A German study in 1999 had already found that indirubin possesses anti-leukemia properties. Danggui Longhui Wan has been used to treat leukemia.

In the current study, Richard Jove and colleagues synthesized and characterized 10 indirubin derivatives. One derivative, E804, inhibited a protein called Stat3 activity in breast and prostate cancer cell cultures, and blocked c-Src activity.

Stat3, activated by c-Src protein, plays a role in the cell survival and proliferation in many types of cancers. Inhibition of Stat3 and blockage of c-Src inhibit the cancer cell growth.

The researchers showed that treatment of E804 on the cancer cell lines decreased the levels of active Stat3 and induced apoptosis –programmed cell death in the breast cancer cells by down-regulating the expression of Mc1 and Survivin, proteins known to block apoptosis.

The researchers suggested that the indirubin derivative E804 has potential as a cancer therapeutic agent. #

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 18, 2005