Rhein Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Inhibiting the mTOR Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Rhein is a natural anthraquinone extract from rhubarb, which exhibits potent anticancer activity in various cancers. In this study, we show that rhein significantly inhibited the growth, migration, and invasion of CRC cells by directly binding to mTOR and inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway. Rhein promotes mTOR degradation through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. In addition, rhein significantly suppressed tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model without obvious toxicity. Our results indicate that rhein is a promising anticancer agent that may be useful for the prevention and treatment of CRC. ABSTRACT: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Rhein has demonstrated therapeutic effects in various cancer models. However, its effects and underlying mechanisms of action in CRC remain poorly understood. We investigated the potential anticancer activity and underlying mechanisms of rhein in CRC in vitro and in vivo. Cell viability and anchorage-independent colony formation assays were performed to examine the antigrowth effects of rhein on CRC cells. Wound-healing and Transwell assays were conducted to assess cell migration and invasion capacity. Cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry and verified by immunoblotting. A tissue microarray was used to detect mTOR expression in CRC patient tissues. Gene overexpression and knockdown were done to analyze the function of mTOR in CRC. The anticancer effect of rhein in vivo was assessed in a CRC xenograft mouse model. The results show that rhein significantly inhibited CRC cell growth by inducing S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Rhein inhibited CRC cell migration and invasion through the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. mTOR was highly expressed in CRC cancer tissues and cells. Overexpression of mTOR promoted cell growth, migration, and invasion, whereas mTOR knockdown diminished these phenomena in CRC cells in vitro. In addition, rhein directly targeted mTOR and inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway in CRC cells. Rhein promoted mTOR degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Intraperitoneal administration of rhein inhibited HCT116 xenograft tumor growth through the mTOR pathway. In conclusion, rhein exerts anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo by targeting mTOR and inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway in CRC. Our results indicate that rhein is a potent anticancer agent that may be useful for the prevention and treatment of CRC.