Anticancer mechanism of apigenin and the implications of GLUT-1 expression in head and neck cancers. (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bao, Yang-Yang; Zhou, Shui-Hong; Fan, Jun; Wang, Qin-Ying
• Is Part Of: Future oncology. Volume 9:Number 9(2013)
• Page Start: 1353
• Page End: 1364
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: anti-tumor effect -- apigenin -- glucose uptake -- GLUT-1 -- head and neck cancer -- PI3K/Akt pathway; Oncology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.2217/fon.13.84
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-6694

Abstract

Apigenin, a natural phytoestrogen flavonoid, has potential biological effects, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. The mechanisms of anticancer activities of apigenin are unknown. Some studies have found that apigenin inhibits GLUT-1 mRNA and protein expression in cancer cells. Thus, we hypothesized that apigenin exerts similar effects on head and neck cancers through its inhibition of GLUT-1 expression. In this article, we review the anticancer mechanism of apigenin and the implications of GLUT-1 expression in head and neck cancers. In addition, we describe the current state of knowledge about the relationship between apigenin and GLUT-1 expression in head and neck cancers.