Rottlerin, a natural polyphenol purified from the fruit of Mallotus philippensis, caused a potent cell cycle arrest in several cancer cells, by inhibiting transcriptional activity of NFB and thereby downregulating cyclin D1. Rottlerin has also apoptotic effects caused by mitochondrial uncoupling and/or endoplasmic reticulum stress and promotes autophagy by inhibition of the mTOR pathway. Our study is aimed at identifying the molecular events that lead to apoptotic and/or autophagic cell death in cancer cells, with different backgrounds and chemo-sensitivity, in order to better understand the anti-cancer potential of this molecule and to design new therapeutic strategies for inhibiting tumor growth and spreading.
The specific topics of our research include:
- Signal transduction.
- Natural anticancer drugs.
- Programmed cell deaths: apoptosis, autophagy.
- Tumor cell invasion.
Research group: