Water extracts of Cordyceps sinensis inhibits proliferation and metastasis via regulating cell cycle and matrix metalloproteinases in melanoma

Background:Melanoma has poor survival rate owing to its aggressiveness and high rates of metastasis and recurrence.Only few effective therapies are available for metastatic melanoma,so,development of novel anti-metastatic drugs is in urgent need.Cordyceps sinensis is a well-known and common Chinese medicine and has been used as anti-cancer adjuvant treatments for many years.In our study,we aim to evaluate the effects of water extracts of Cordyceps sinensis(WECS)in A375 melanoma cells and in zebrafish model of melanoma metastasis.Methods:Initially,we detected the effect of WECS on the viability in A375 melanoma cells by MTT assay and colony formation assay,and then we detected the effect of WECS on adhesion and metastasis by wound healing assay and Transwell chambers assays.Next,we also explored underlying mechanism by Western blot.Notably,in vivo anti-metastasis assays with A375 zebrafish xenograft model also were performed.Results:As expected,our results found that WECS suppressed proliferation,adhesion and metastasis in A375 melanoma cells via regulating AKT/MMP2/MMP9 pathways and cell cycle.Furthermore,we also confirmed anti-metastasis efficacy of WECS with A375 zebrafish xenograft model.Conclusion:Overall,our results indicate that WECS,as a kind of metastasis inhibitor,may be developed as a new therapeutic strategy for metastatic melanoma treatment.