Purpose: Koningic acid (KA), a sesquiterpene lactone, has been identified as an antimicrobial agent. Recent studies have revealed KA’s antitumor activities in colorectal cancer, leukemia, and lung cancer. However, its antitumor effect in thyroid cancer remains largely unknown. The aim of this study is to test the therapeutic potential of KA in thyroid cancer and explore the mechanisms underlying antitumor effects.
Methods: We examined the effects of KA on proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis, ATP deprivation, and xenograft tumor growth in thyroid cancer cells.
Results: KA inhibited thyroid cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, and induced cell apoptosis in a dose and time-dependent manner. Our data also showed that KA caused a rapid, extensive decrease of ATP levels in thyroid cancer cells. Growth of xenograft tumor derived from the thyroid cancer cell line C643 in nude mice was significantly inhibited by KA. Importantly, KA treatment did not cause significant liver and kidney damage in mice compared with the control group.
Conclusion: KA may be used as an effective and safe agent for thyroid cancer treatment.