Synthesized tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid exerts anticancer effects at least in part by suppressing NF-κB-regulated proteins in A549 human lung cancer cells.

CKD-712, a newly synthesized tetrahydroisoquinoline (THI) and an enantiomer (S form) of YS 49 (a derivative of higenamine) has been reported to suppress nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity in normal cells. In the present study, we investigated the anticancer effects of THI at a low concentration where CKD-712 did not induce cell death in normal cells. At the range of concentrations used, CKD-712 induced cell growth arrest, and inhibited the invasion and motility of A549 cells as determined by cell cycle analysis, a Matrigel-coated chamber assay, and a wound-healing assay, respectively. CKD-712 suppressed MMP-9, but not MMP-2 and other NF-κB-regulated proteins involved in cancer metastasis such as VEGF. Moreover, CKD-712 induced cell cycle arrest at G2M phase by suppressing cyclin A, cyclin B and CDK-1 expression. Taken together, these data suggested that CKD-712 may exert anticancer effects by suppressing NF-κB pathways and inducing cell cycle arrest at G2M phase.