Naphthoquinone-derived ZSW-4B induces apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer via AMPK signalling activation

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant molecular subtype of breast cancer and is characterized by aggressiveness, high mortality, significant heterogeneity, and poor prognosis. AMPK plays a critical role in maintaining the cellular energy balance, and its inactivation is...

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Main Authors: Xiyuan Hu, Hongdou Liu, Tiao Luo, Ling Chen, Ting Peng, Min Wen, Wensong Luo, Qunfang Xu, Yuanzhu Xie, Mo Li, Mingquan Liu, Xiaohe Liu, Suyou Liu, Shuaiwen Zhu, Zizheng Zou, Zhiyong Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79592-9
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Summary:Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant molecular subtype of breast cancer and is characterized by aggressiveness, high mortality, significant heterogeneity, and poor prognosis. AMPK plays a critical role in maintaining the cellular energy balance, and its inactivation is associated with malignant breast cancer. Here, we identified the pharmacological mechanism of the 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative ZSW-4B. MTT, colony formation, and nude mouse xenograft tumour models demonstrated that ZSW-4B selectively inhibits the proliferation of TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry and Western blot analysis revealed that ZSW-4B induces apoptosis in TNBC cells. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed activation of the AMPK signalling pathway by ZSW-4B. Additionally, the application of the CRISPR-Cas9 system to genetically knockout AMPK in TNBC cell lines was demonstrated to reverse the antitumour effects elicited by ZSW-4B both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, ZSW-4B inhibits TNBC by inducing cellular apoptosis through the activation of AMPK.
ISSN:2045-2322