Affiliation:
1. Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza, 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer death, with a worldwide incidence rate constantly increasing; thus, new strategies for its prevention or treatment are needed. Here, we describe the adjuvant effect of the polyphenol-enriched fractions of cinnamon, from cinnamon bark and buds, when co-administered with a potent anticancer drug, cetuximab, used for CRC therapy. The co-administration significantly reduces the cetuximab dose required for the antiproliferative activity against colorectal cancer cell line E705, which is sensitive to EGFR-targeted therapy. The anticancer activity of these cinnamon-derived fractions, whose major components (as assessed by UPLC–HRMS analysis) are procyanidins and other flavonoids, strictly correlates with their ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines through ERK activation and the mitochondrial membrane potential impairment. Due to the severe side effects of cetuximab administration, our results suggest the use of nutraceuticals based on the polyphenolic fractions of cinnamon extracts as adjuvants in the therapy of CRC.
Funder
Italian Ministry for Instruction, University and Research-Fondo per il finanziamento delle attività base di ricerca
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis
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