@article { , title = {Sulfated galactans from the red seaweed Gracilaria fisheri exerts anti-migration effect on cholangiocarcinoma cells}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Seaweeds have a long history of use in Asian countries as functional foods, medicinal herbs, and the treatment of cancer. Polysaccharides from various seaweeds have shown anti-tumor activity. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), often with metastatic disease, is highly prevalent in Thailand as a consequence of liver fluke infection. Recently, we extracted sulfated galactans (SG) from Gracilaria fisheri (G. fisheri), a south east Asian seaweed, and found it exhibited anti-proliferation effect on CCA cells. PURPOSE: In the present study, we evaluated the anti-migration activity of SG on CCA cells and its underlined mechanism. METHODS: CCA cells were treated with SG alone or drugs targeting to epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) or pretreated with SG prior to incubation with EGF. Anti-migration activity was determined using a scratch wound-healing assay and zymography. Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were used to investigate EGFR signaling mediators. RESULTS: Under basal condition, SG reduced the migration rate of CCA, which was correlated with a decrease in the active-form of matrix metalloproteinases-9. SG decreased expression of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (FAK), but increased expression of E-cadherin to promote cells stasis. Moreover, phosphorylation of EGFR and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), known to stimulate growth of cancer cells, was blocked in a comparable way to EGFR inhibitors Cetuximab and Erlotinib. Pretreatment cells with SG attenuated EGF induced phosphorylation of EGFR, ERK and FAK. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that SG from G. fisheri retards migration of CCA cells, and its mechanism of inhibition is mediated, to some extent, by inhibitory effects on MAPK/ERK signal transduction pathway. Our findings suggest that there may be a therapeutic potential of SG in CCA treatment.}, doi = {10.1016/j.phymed.2017.09.014}, eissn = {1618-095X}, issn = {0944-7113}, journal = {Phytomedicine}, note = {12 months embargo after uploading AAM. Publisher's PDF not allowed. Letter to depositor. OL 05.03.2018}, publicationstatus = {Published}, publisher = {Elsevier}, url = {https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/898287}, volume = {36}, keyword = {Anti-migration , Cholangiocarcinoma , Epidermal growth factor receptor , Gracilaria fisheri , Mitogen-activated kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinases , Sulfated galactans}, year = {2017}, author = {Sae-Lao, Thannicha and Luplertlop, Natthanej and Janvilisri, Tavan and Tohtong, Rutaiwan and Bates, David O and Wongprasert, Kanokpan} }