8-Gingerol regulates colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration through the EGFR/STAT/ERK pathway

8-Gingerol, which is extracted from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the antitumor effect of 8-gingerol has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of 8-gingerol against colorectal cancer (CRC). The results demonstrated that 8-gingerol significantly inhibited cell proliferation in CRC cell models. Treatment of CRC cells with 8-gingerol resulted in dose-dependent decreases in migration and invasion. The inhibitory effect of 8-gingerol on CRC cell growth was attributed to cell cycle arrest and increased apoptosis. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to demonstrate that 8-gingerol acted as an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. 8-Gingerol inhibited CRC cell proliferation and migration by targeting the EGFR/signal transducer and activator of transcription/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, and the effects of 8-gingerol depended on the expression of EGFR. Moreover, 8-gingerol reduced the effective dosage of 5-fluorouracil and, thereby, the toxicity of drug combination therapy. These data suggest that 8-gingerol may be a promising candidate for the development of novel anticancer agents against CRC.