Abstract

Cancer remains one of the most critical health issues of our era, primarily due to the unregulated growth and dissemination of abnormal cells. It is among the leading causes of mortality worldwide and is typically accompanied by chronic inflammation and a compromised immune system. For a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying cancer cell activity, it is essential to understand the distinct elements of the tumor microenvironment and the pathways through which these elements interact. In this research, we explored the potential anticancer properties of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) in gastric and colon cancer cell lines. Our goal was to analyze and compare the expression of apoptosis markers; Apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), B-cell lymphoma 2 (bcl-2), caspas 9 (cas-9) and Cytochrome c (Cyc) and angiogenesis markers; Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Endostatin and thrombospondin (TSP) in environments enriched with the extracellular matrix proteins (laminin and collagen I). CAPE was administered to gastric (NCI-N87) and colon (Colo 205) cancer cells lines cultivated on matrix proteins. The amount of synthesized DNA was measured using RT-PCR by detecting absorbance at 260 nm. The comparative data indicated that CAPE enhanced apoptotic activity in colon cancer cells while promoting angiogenic responses in gastric cancer cells, particularly when laminin was present. These observations highlight laminin’s significant influence in these mechanisms and show that CAPE further intensifies these effects. Follow-up studies using animal models are planned to reinforce these findings. In summary, our findings indicate that CAPE may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of gastric and colorectal cancers.

Key words: Cancer cell, apoptosis, angiogenesis, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, matrix proteins