Adhesion molecules play a key role in tumour development and are involved in processes that allow cancer cell migration, tissue invasion and metastasis formation. Allicin, the major component of Garlic (Allium sativum) was examined for the ability to inhibit metastasis and the mechanism of the inhibition of metastasis in human breast cancer cells. Western blot analysis showed that cells pretreated with various concentrations of allicin (0.1–10 ng/ml) resulted in decrease in the levels of VCAM‐1 and p65 expression, whereas ER‐α expression was increased by allicin in TNF‐α‐treated cells. Allicin treatment also inhibited p65‐ER‐α complex formation induced by TNF‐α. In addition, cell migration and invasion assays showed that allicin inhibited the migration and invasion of MCF‐7 cells. Taken together, the present data suggest that allicin inhibits the migration and invasion of MCF‐7 cells, and the effect is likely associated with inhibition of p65‐ER‐α complex formation and downregulation of VCAM‐1 expression.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.