Study: CBDA Blocks Key Enzymes Tied to Aggressive Breast Cancer Cell Movement
- A new study published in The Journal of Biochemistry reveals that cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) interferes with signaling pathways involved in the movement of aggressive human breast cancer cells.
- The research focused on MDA-MB-231 cells, a model of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer, and showed that CBDA inhibits Rho-associated kinases (ROCKs), affecting cell movement.
- CBDA was found to cause cancer cells to elongate by disrupting ROCK signaling and promoted lamellipodia formation, while altering the distribution of adhesion protein vinculin.
- The study suggests CBDA could be a potential candidate for developing new ROCK inhibitors, though findings are limited to lab models and do not prove CBDA treats or prevents cancer in humans.
(Photo credit: EcoLink).
According to a new study published in The Journal of Biochemistry, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) can interfere with key signaling pathways involved in the movement of highly aggressive human breast cancer cells.
The research was conducted by scientists from Fukuyama University, Hiroshima International University and Daiichi University of Pharmacy. It focused on MDA-MB-231 cells, a widely used model of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer.
Researchers previously reported that CBDA, a major cannabinoid found in fiber-type cannabis plants, can reduce the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells while activating RhoA, a small GTPase involved in cell movement and structure. The new study examined how that process occurs.
The researchers found that CBDA inhibited Rho-associated kinases, known as ROCKs, at around 25 micromolar. ROCK signaling is involved in tail retraction, a process cells use to move. By disrupting that pathway, CBDA caused the cancer cells to become markedly elongated, similar to the effect seen with Y-27632, an established ROCK inhibitor.
The study also found that CBDA promoted lamellipodia formation at the leading edge of the cells, while increasing mRNA expression of DIAPHs, another part of the RhoA signaling pathway. CBDA also caused vinculin, an adhesion protein, to accumulate at the trailing edge without changing its overall expression.
Researchers said the findings indicate CBDA may serve as a candidate for developing new ROCK inhibitors. The findings are limited to laboratory cell models and do not show that CBDA treats or prevents cancer in humans.