Ginger compound induces triple negative breast cancer cell death

Posted: March 26, 2017

Study:	[10]-Gingerol, a major phenolic constituent of ginger root, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells Cite Bernard MM, McConnery JR, Hoskin DW. [10]-Gingerol, a major phenolic constituent of ginger root, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Elsevier BV; 2017; 102:370-376 10.1016/j.yexmp.2017.03.006
Publication:	Experimental and Molecular Pathology, March 2017

Study:

[10]-Gingerol, a major phenolic constituent of ginger root, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells Cite

Bernard MM, McConnery JR, Hoskin DW. [10]-Gingerol, a major phenolic constituent of ginger root, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Elsevier BV; 2017; 102:370-376 10.1016/j.yexmp.2017.03.006

Publication:

Experimental and Molecular Pathology, March 2017

Ginger induces triple negative breast cancer cell death

Ginger has been found to inhibit mammary tumor growth in mice. Ginger incorporates several compounds with anti-cancer effects, including various gingerols. [6]-gingerol has been shown to inhibit cell adhesion, invasion, and motility in both hormone receptor positive (ER+/PR+) and triple negative (ER-/PR-/HER2-) breast cancer cells.

In addition, [6]-gingerol has been shown to selectively induce the death of ER+/PR+ breast cancer stem cells.

Ginger appears to increase the effectiveness of Adriamycin (doxorubicin) chemotherapy and may reduce chemotherapy-associated nausea. However, ginger should be avoided during radiotherapy since it has been shown to help protect cells against the cytotoxic effects of radiation. Now a new study has reported that [10]-gingerol is especially effective in inducing triple negative breast cancer cell death.

Latest research finds gingerol reduces breast cancer growth

The study referenced above was designed to compare the effectiveness of [10]-gingerol with [8]-gingerol and [6]-gingerol in inhibiting the growth of human breast cancer and mouse mammary tumor cells. Ginger contains several bioactive gingerols, however most cancer-related research has focused on [6]-gingerol.

Study design and results

The authors first determined that [10]-gingerol was more powerful than [6]-gingerol and at least as potent as [8]-gingerol in inhibiting triple-negative human (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines) and mouse mammary carcinoma (4T1, E0771) cell growth. [10]-gingerol-gingerol was also found to suppress the growth of ER+/PR+ (MCF-7, T47D) and HER2+ (SKBR3) breast cancer cells.

Further experimentation demonstrated that [10]-gingerol's growth inhibitory effect on triple negative cells was associated with reduced cell division and increased apoptosis (programmed cell death). Surprisingly, the cytotoxic effect of [10]-gingerol did not appear to depend on accumulation of reactive oxygen species.

The authors conclude that further investigation of [10]-gingerol for possible use in breast cancer treatment is justified.

Please see our article on triple negative diet for more information.

Selected breast cancer studies

Abstract B40: [10]-gingerol as a pro-apoptotic molecule in triple negative breast cancer Cite
Martin ACBM, Tomasin R, Becceneri AB, Fuzer A, Vieira PC, Cominetti MR. Abstract B40: [10]-gingerol as a pro-apoptotic molecule in triple negative breast cancer. Exploiting Repair Defects in the Tumor Microenvironment. American Association for Cancer Research; 2017; 10.1158/1557-3125.dnarepair16-b40
Ginger extract adjuvant to doxorubicin in mammary carcinoma: study of some molecular mechanisms Cite
El-Ashmawy NE, Khedr NF, El-Bahrawy HA, Abo Mansour HE. Ginger extract adjuvant to doxorubicin in mammary carcinoma: study of some molecular mechanisms. European Journal of Nutrition. Springer Science and Business Media LLC; 2017; 57:981-989 10.1007/s00394-017-1382-6
[10]-Gingerol Reverts Malignant Phenotype of Breast Cancer Cells in 3D Culture Cite
Fuzer AM, Lee S, Mott JD, Cominetti MR. [10]-Gingerol Reverts Malignant Phenotype of Breast Cancer Cells in 3D Culture. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. Wiley; 2017; 118:2693-2699 10.1002/jcb.25906
The effect of ginger supplementation on serum C-reactive protein, lipid profile and glycaemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis Cite
Mazidi M, Gao H, Rezaie P, Ferns GA. The effect of ginger supplementation on serum C-reactive protein, lipid profile and glycaemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Food & Nutrition Research. SNF Swedish Nutrition Foundation; 2016; 60:32613 10.3402/fnr.v60.32613
Zerumbone suppresses the motility and tumorigenecity of triple negative breast cancer cells via the inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling pathway Cite
Kim S, Lee J, Jeon M, Lee JE, Nam SJ. Zerumbone suppresses the motility and tumorigenecity of triple negative breast cancer cells via the inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling pathway. Oncotarget. Impact Journals, LLC; 2015; 7:1544-1558 10.18632/oncotarget.6441
10-Gingerol inhibits proliferation and invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through suppression of Akt and p38MAPK activity Cite
JOO J, HONG S, CHO Y, SEO D. 10-Gingerol inhibits proliferation and invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through suppression of Akt and p38MAPK activity. Oncology Reports. Spandidos Publications; 2015; 35:779-784 10.3892/or.2015.4405
6-Shogaol Inhibits Breast Cancer Cells and Stem Cell-Like Spheroids by Modulation of Notch Signaling Pathway and Induction of Autophagic Cell Death Cite
Ray A, Vasudevan S, Sengupta S. 6-Shogaol Inhibits Breast Cancer Cells and Stem Cell-Like Spheroids by Modulation of Notch Signaling Pathway and Induction of Autophagic Cell Death. PLOS ONE. Public Library of Science (PLoS); 2015; 10:e0137614 10.1371/journal.pone.0137614
4-Shogaol, an Active Constituent of Dietary Ginger, Inhibits Metastasis of MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cells by Decreasing the Repression of NF-κB/Snail on RKIP Cite
Hsu Y, Chen C, Lin I, Tsai E, Kuo P, Hou M. 4-Shogaol, an Active Constituent of Dietary Ginger, Inhibits Metastasis of MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cells by Decreasing the Repression of NF-κB/Snail on RKIP. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. American Chemical Society (ACS); 2011; 60:852-861 10.1021/jf2052515
[6]-Gingerol inhibits metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells Cite
LEE H, SEO E, KANG N, KIM W. [6]-Gingerol inhibits metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Elsevier BV; 2008; 19:313-319 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2007.05.008
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), a Dietary Supplement, Protects Mice Against Radiation- Induced Lethality: Mechanism of Action Cite
Jagetia G, Baliga M, Venkatesh P. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), a Dietary Supplement, Protects Mice Against Radiation- Induced Lethality: Mechanism of Action. Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals. Mary Ann Liebert Inc; 2004; 19:422-435 10.1089/cbr.2004.19.422

Latest research finds gingerol reduces breast cancer growth

Study design and results

Selected breast cancer studies

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