Nitidine Chloride inhibits breast cancer cells migration and invasion by suppressing c-Src/FAK associated signaling pathway

Nitidine is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, which has been shown to have anti-tumor properties. Here, we demonstrated that Nitidine Chloride (NC) could inhibit breast cancer cells migration and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, the protrusion formation and partial proteolytic activity of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were attenuated by NC in a dose-dependent manner in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, addition NC to cells significantly decreases PDGF induced phosphorylation of c-Src, FAK, MAPKs, activation of RhoA, Rac1 and AP-1 transcriptional activity. Taken together, our results indicate that NC could have potential as a novel anti-metastasis drug to breast cancer.

► Nitidine Chloride inhibits breast cancer cells migration and invasion. ► NC reduces protrusion formation and proteolytic activity of MMP-9 and MMP-2. ► PDGF induced signaling and AP-1 transcriptional activity was decreased by NC. ► NC could have potential as a novel anti-metastasis drug to breast cancer.