2. Academic Validation
  3. Robinetin inhibits osteosarcoma proliferation and migration, acting via the Slug/Twist signaling axis

Robinetin inhibits osteosarcoma proliferation and migration, acting via the Slug/Twist signaling axis

  • Eur J Pharmacol. 2026 Jan 12:1011:178432. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.178432.
Isabela Santos 1,  Hélio M T Albuquerque 2,  Marta Teixeira Pinto 3,  Nuno Mendes 3,  Eduarda Fernandes 1,  José Miguel P Ferreira de Oliveira 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
  • 2 LAQV, REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, Campus Universitario de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
  • 3 i3S-Institute of Investigation and Innovation in Health, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Ipatimup, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
  • 4 LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41352702 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.178432
Abstract

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, predominantly affecting young individuals. Despite standard chemotherapy and surgical resection, the overall survival rate has reached a plateau, emphasizing the need for more effective treatments. Flavonoids are antioxidant molecules with recognized anti-inflammatory and Anticancer properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of five Flavonoids against four different osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63, Saos-2 HOS, and 143B). Among the five structurally different Flavonoids, robinetin exhibited the highest toxicity against osteosarcoma cells while sparing healthy human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5). Robinetin synergized with doxorubicin, reducing 143B cell viability, delaying migration, and downregulating metastasis-related transcription factors c-Jun, Snail, Slug, and Twist2. In vivo, robinetin inhibited the growth of osteosarcoma tumor xenografts in a chick chorioallantoic membrane model. Our study highlights and reports for the first time the therapeutic value of robinetin and demonstrates the potential of robinetin in osteosarcoma treatment.

Keywords

Bone cancer; Chicken embryo; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Flavonol; Metastases.

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