Targeting of PP2Cδ By a Small Molecule C23 Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Breast Cancer Progression In Vivo

Aims: Epidemiologic evidence indicates that diabetes may increase risk of breast cancer (BC) and mortality in patients with cancer. The pathophysiological relationships between diabetes and cancer are not fully understood, and personalized treatments for diabetes-associated BC are urgently needed. Results: We observed that high glucose (HG), via activation of nuclear phosphatase PP2C delta, suppresses p53 function, and consequently promotes BC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. PP2C delta expression is higher in tumor tissues from BC patients with hyperglycemia than those with normoglycemia. The mechanisms underlying HG stimulation of PP2C delta involve classical/novel protein kinase-C (PKC) activation and GSK3 beta phosphorylation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)/NF-kappa B pathway also mediates HG induction of PP2C delta. Furthermore, we identified a 1,5-diheteroarylpenta-1,4-dien-3-one (Compound 23, or C23) as a novel potent PP2C delta inhibitor with a striking cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells through cell-based screening assay for growth inhibition and activity of a group of curcumin mimics. Beside directly inhibiting PP2C delta activity, C23 blocks HG induction of PP2C delta expression via heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) induction and subsequent ablation of ROS/NF-B activation. C23 can thus significantly block HG-triggered inhibition of p53 activity, leading to the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, hyperglycemia promotes BC development in diabetic nude mice, and C23 inhibits the xenografted BC tumor growth. Conclusions and Innovation: Our findings elucidate mechanisms that may have contributed to diabetes-associated BC progression, and provide the first evidence to support the possible alternative therapeutic approach to BC patients with diabetes.