RESUMEN
8Gingerol, which is extracted from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), has been shown to possess antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. However, the antitumor effect of 8gingerol has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of 8gingerol against colorectal cancer (CRC). The results demonstrated that 8gingerol significantly inhibited cell proliferation in CRC cell models. Treatment of CRC cells with 8gingerol resulted in dosedependent decreases in migration and invasion. The inhibitory effect of 8gingerol on CRC cell growth was attributed to cell cycle arrest and increased apoptosis. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to demonstrate that 8gingerol acted as an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. 8Gingerol inhibited CRC cell proliferation and migration by targeting the EGFR/signal transducer and activator of transcription/extracellular signalregulated kinase pathway, and the effects of 8gingerol depended on the expression of EGFR. Moreover, 8gingerol reduced the effective dosage of 5fluorouracil and, thereby, the toxicity of drug combination therapy. These data suggest that 8gingerol may be a promising candidate for the development of novel anticancer agents against CRC.