As one of the leading causes of death in the modern world, the incidence of cancer varies widely by race, ethnicity, and region. Traditional cancer treatments, such as surgery and immunotherapy, are often limited and costly. In this context, ion channels responsible for cell migration have emerged as one of the most promising targets in cancer therapy.
Metastatic disease is the most common cause of death in breast cancer patients. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. In the same year, WHO announced 670,000 deaths related to breast cancer.
Researchers from the University of Sharjah published a study in the journal Scientific Reports showing that the leaves of the acacia tree contain compounds that are able to stop the spread of cancer cells, providing a natural solution to prevent breast cancer from metastasizing. This study focused on the organic compounds in the ethanol extract (ALEE) of Acacia plant and the effects of these compounds on the anti-migration, antiproliferative, and cytotoxic potential of two human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7. In addition, artificial intelligence (AI)-based models, including multilayer perceptron (MLP), extreme gradient enhancement (XGB), and extreme learning machine (ELM), were used to predict the migration of cancer cells in vitro for these two cell lines.
Through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, the research team investigated the organic compound composition of ALEE. The cytotoxicity, antiproliferative and anti-migration activities of the extracts were evaluated by Tryphan Blue staining, MTT method and scratch healing assay, respectively. Of the different concentrations of ALEE (2.5-200 μg/mL) used in this study, concentrations of 2.5-10 μg/mL showed enhanced anti-migration potential with increasing concentrations, and these concentrations did not affect cell proliferation (P < 0.05; n ≥ 3）。 In addition, three data-driven models—Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Extreme Gradient Enhancement (XGB), and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM)—predicted the potential migration capacity of the extract to the treated cells based on experimental data. Overall, the concentration of plant extracts that did not affect the proliferation of the cell type used showed promising effects in reducing cell migration. During the testing phase, the XGB model outperformed the MLP and ELM models, improving the performance efficiency of the MCF and MDA-MB231 by up to 3% and 1%, as well as by 1% and 2%, respectively.
This research not only provides a scientific basis for the development of new cancer treatment strategies, but also opens up new possibilities for the application of natural compounds and AI technology in the field of cancer treatment. Through these advanced methods, researchers are able to more accurately predict and evaluate potential anti-cancer compounds, leading to more effective and cost-effective treatment options for cancer patients. With further research and clinical trials, Albizia lebbeck's extract could become an important part of future cancer treatments, especially showing great potential in the fight against breast cancer metastasis.
Dr. Dilber Uzun Ozsahin, Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Sharjah, said: "The ability to stop cancer cells from migrating is particularly important in preventing cancer from spreading to distant organs, a process that is critical to the lethality of many cancers, including breast cancer. ”
Dr Ozsahin said taking a different approach to arriving at the finding adds a "solid dimension" to the study, which incorporates AI into cancer research. The study utilizes advanced computational models such as multilayer perceptron (MLP), extreme gradient enhancement (XGB), and extreme learning machine (ELM) to predict in vitro migration of cancer cells. Our study identified promising organic compounds in ALEE that have medicinal properties that may help prevent metastasis of human breast cancer. Interestingly, we observed that different concentrations of the plant extract were non-toxic and had no effect on cell proliferation, but showed significant anti-migration potential in MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 cells, with increasing concentrations. ”
Dr. Huzaifa Umar, lead author of the study and the University of the Near East of Northern Cyprus, noted: "Our study reveals the multifaceted approach needed to address the complexity of cancer metastasis and highlights the importance of exploring natural compounds and advanced computational technologies in cancer treatment and prevention. In addition, the study provides insight into the role of medicinal plants and their components in the treatment of cancer and other related diseases, a finding that will pave the way for other researchers to conduct more research using various medicinal plants. This is very important and addresses a critical need in cancer research and treatment, as metastasis involves the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumour to other parts of the body, and metastasis is indeed the leading cause of death in cancer patients. It poses a significant challenge for cancer treatment, as it often leads to more aggressive diseases that are more difficult to control. The discovery of medicinal plants with the potential to inhibit metastasis holds great promise for the prevention of metastatic or advanced cancers. ”
"This study proposes an innovative cancer treatment that improves patient outcomes and may lead to the development of safer and more effective treatments to combat metastatic cancer," Dr Ozsahin said. By demonstrating anti-migration, antiproliferative, and cytotoxic effects on these cancer cell lines, the study suggests that Acacia may be a promising natural drug against breast cancer metastasis. ”
The tree is native to the Indian subcontinent and is commonly used by farmers to shade their plantations, especially cocoa and coffee plantations. The edible part consists of the small tip of the tree.
Mr Ozsahin said the study had generated "considerable interest" from the medical community, with some industry expressing interest in working with the team on how to advance the study to the clinical stage. "Entering the clinical phase will allow us to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of the new treatment in human subjects. Clinical trials provide a rigorous framework for testing experimental treatments, collecting data on their effects, and evaluating their impact on patient outcomes. ”
来源：Scientific Reports
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