Anticancer action of flavonoids mediated by different GPCRs

Subfamily of GPCRsGPCRFlavonoidCancer modelMolecular mechanisms of biological effectsReference
Adrenoceptorsα2C-ARQuercetin (0.1 µM)MCF-10A human mammary epithelial cells[3H]-NA binding to α2C-AR↓
4-OHE2- and NA-induced γ-H2AX and apurinic sites↓
[14]
Quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (0.1 µM)MCF-10A human mammary epithelial cells[3H]-NA binding to α2C-AR↓
4-OHE2- and NA-induced γ-H2AX and apurinic sites↓
[14]
β2-ARQuercetin-3-O-glucuronide (0.1 µM)MDA-MB-231 human breast adenocarcinoma cells[3H]-NA to β2-AR↓
NA-induced ROS/NF-κB↓, cAMP/PKA↓, MAPK↓, MMP-9↓
NA-induced invasion↓
[8]
Cannabinoid receptorCB1RQuercetin (50 µM)Caco2 human colon adenocarcinoma cellsCB1R mRNA and protein expression↑
PI3K/Akt/mTOR↓, JNK/JUN↑
Cell growth↓, cell cycle progression from S to G2/M↓, apoptosis↑, cell migration↓
[15]
Quercetin (50 µM)DLD-1 human colon adenocarcinoma cellsCB1R mRNA and protein expression↑
Cell growth↓
[15]
Quercetin (0.5% of standard diet)Intestinal tissue of AOM-treated C57BL/6J male miceCB1R mRNA and protein expression↑
STAT3↓, p-STAT3↓, Bax/Bcl-2↑
[22]
Chemokine receptorCXCR4Apigenin (20 µM, 40 µM)Arsenic-transformed Beas-2B human bronchial epithelial cells (B-AsT)CXCR4 protein expression↓
Constitutive and CXCL12-induced cell migration and invasion↓
[4]
Apigenin (40 mg/kg)B-AsT cells-injected male athymic nude miceCXCR4 protein expression↓
Tumor growth↓
[4]
Luteolin (10 µM, 30 µM)MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cellsCXCR4 mRNA and protein expression↓
Cell invasion↓
[21]
Luteolin (40 mg/kg)Lung tissue of B16F10 murine melanoma cells-injected C57BL/6 male miceCXCR4 mRNA and protein expression↓
The number of lung metastases↓
[21]
Fisetin (40 µM)A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cellsCXCR4 mRNA expression↓
Apoptosis↑
[17]
Myricetin (25 µM, 50 µM)PC-3 human prostate cancer cellsDisruption of PIM1/CXCR4 interaction↑, CXCL12-CXCR4 axis↓
CXCL12-induced migration↓
[7]
Myricetin (25 mg/kg)PC-3 cells-injected athymic nude micePhosphorylated CXCR4 expression↓
Lung and bone metastasis↓
[7]
Ampelopsin (25 µM, 50 µM)PC-3 human androgen-independent prostate cancer cellsCXCR4 protein expression↓
Cell migration↓, cell invasion↓
[20]
Ampelopsin (300 mg/kg)Orthotopic PC-3 tumor model in male severe combined immunodeficient miceCXCR4 protein expression↓
Lymph node metastases↓, lung metastases↓
[20]
Xanthohumol (50 µM)MDA-MB-231 human breast adenocarcinoma cellsCXCR4 mRNA and protein expression↓
CXCL12-induced invasion↓
[3]
Xanthohumol (50 µM)SW620 human colon adenocarcinoma cellsCXCR4 mRNA and protein expression↓
CXCL12-induced invasion↓
[3]
Membrane estrogen receptorGPR30Baicalein (8 µM)MCF-10A and MCF-12A human mammary non-tumorigenic epithelial cellsE2-induced GPR30-mediated SRC, EGFR, ERK1/2 and Akt signaling↓
Tumorigenesis↓
[16]
Baicalein (10 µM, 15 µM)MCF-7 human breast cancer cellsE2-induced GPR30-mediated EGFR, ERK1/2 and Akt signaling↓, MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression and activity↓
E2-induced GPR30-mediated cell migration, adhesion, and invasion↓
[5, 6]
Baicalein (10 µM, 15 µM)SK-BR-3 human breast cancer cellsE2-induced GPR30-mediated EGFR, ERK1/2 and Akt signaling↓
E2-induced GPR30-mediated cell migration, adhesion, and invasion↓
[5]
Parathyroid HRPTHR1Quercetin (80 µM, 100 µM)U2OS and Saos-2 human metastatic osteosarcoma cells PTHR1 mRNA and protein expression↓
Cell proliferation↓, migration↓, adhesion↓, invasion↓
[9]
Prostanoid receptorEP3RGenistein (50 µM, 80 µM)Human oral (MMel-1, MMel-2), uveal (OCM-1, OCM-3) and cutaneous (G361, WM-115) melanoma cellsEP3R mRNA expression↓
PGE2-induced and EP3R-mediated IL-8 mRNA expression↓
Cell proliferation↓
[18]

4-OHE2: 4-hydroxyestradiol; Akt: protein kinase B; AOM: azoxymethane; AR: adrenoceptor; Bax: Bcl-2-associated X protein; Bcl-2: B cell lymphoma-2; cAMP: cyclic adenosine monophosphate; CB1R: cannabinoid receptor 1; CXCL12: C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12; CXCR4: C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4; E2: 17β-estradiol; EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor; EP3R: prostaglandin E receptor 3; ERK1/2: extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2; GPCR: G protein-coupled receptor; HR: hormone receptor; IL-8: interleukin-8; JNK: c-Jun N-terminal kinase; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MMP-9: matrix metalloproteinase-9; mTOR: mammalian target of rapamycin; NA: noradrenaline; NF-κB: nuclear factor-κB; PGE2: prostaglandin E2; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PIM1: Moloney murine leukemia virus 1; PKA: protein kinase A; PTHR1: parathyroid hormone receptor 1; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SRC: proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src; STAT3: signal transducer and activator of transcription 3