Luteolin exerts a marked antitumor effect in cMet-overexpressing patient-derived tumor xenograft models of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: Aberrated activation of cMet in gastric cancer contributes to tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. cMet-overexpressing gastric cancer has a poor prognosis because of high tumor metastasis and limited therapeutic options. Luteolin is a common dietary flavonoid with antitumor properties. However, the antitumor effect of luteolin on cMet-overexpressing gastric cancer remain unclear. METHODS: Two cMet-overexpressing patient-derived human tumor xenograft (PDTX) models of gastric cancer were established, and treated with luteolin or vehicle to evaluate the antitumor effects of luteolin. Tumor specimens were subjected to H&E staining and immunohistochemistry. MKN45 and SGC7901 cells that show high cMet expression were treated with varying concentrations of luteolin and evaluated by western blot, cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion assays. RESULTS: Luteolin inhibited the tumor growth in cMet-overexpressing PDTX models. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that expression of cMet, MMP9 and Ki-67 were significantly down-regulated. Luteolin inhibited proliferation, promoted apoptosis and reduced the invasiveness of MKN45 and SGC7901 cells. Western blot revealed that luteolin promoted the activation of apoptosis-related proteins, caspase-3 and PARP-1, and down-regulated the invasion-associated protein, MMP9. Further studies demonstrated that luteolin decreased the expression and phosphorylation of cMet, and downstream phosphorylation of Akt and ERK. In addition, luteolin down-regulated phosphorylated Akt independently of cMet. Blocking Akt and/or ERK with the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, or the ERK inhibitor, PD98059, induced down-regulation of MMP9 and up-regulation of cleaved caspase-3 and PARP-1, resembling the effects of luteolin. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings ,for the first time, demonstrate that luteolin exerts marked antitumor effects in cMet-overexpressing PDTX models of gastric cancer, through a mechanism likely involving cMet/Akt/ERK signaling. These findings indicate that luteolin may act as a potential therapeutic option for cMet-overexpressing gastric cancer. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-015-0398-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.