Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology 
Volume 2006 (2006), Article ID 87246, 10 pages
doi:10.1155/JBB/2006/87246
Research Article

Apocynin Derivatives Interrupt Intracellular Signaling Resulting in Decreased Migration in Breast Cancer Cells

Robert F. Klees,1 Paul C. De Marco,1 Roman M. Salasznyk,1 Disha Ahuja,2 Michael Hogg,2 Sylvain Antoniotti,2 Lakshmi Kamath,3 Jonathan S. Dordick,2 and George E. Plopper1

 1Department of Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy 12180, NY, USA
2Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy 12180, NY, USA
3Life Sciences Division, Millipore Corporation, Danvers 01923, MA, USA
Received 8 September 2005; Accepted 13 October 2005

Abstract

Cancer cells are defined by their ability to divide uncontrollably and metastasize to secondary sites in the body. Consequently, tumor cell migration represents a promising target for anticancer drug development. Using our high-throughput cell migration assay, we have screened several classes of compounds for noncytotoxic tumor cell migration inhibiting activity. One such compound, apocynin (4-acetovanillone), is oxidized by peroxidases to yield a variety of oligophenolic and quinone-type compounds that are recognized inhibitors of NADPH oxidase and may be inhibitors of the small G protein Rac1 that controls cell migration. We report here that while apocynin itself is not effective, apocynin derivatives inhibit migration of the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435 at subtoxic concentrations; the migration of nonmalignant MCF10A breast cells is unaffected. These compounds also cause a significant rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, cell rounding, and decreased levels of active Rac1 and its related G protein Cdc42. These results may suggest a promising new route to the development of novel anticancer therapeutics.