Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate derived from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale. In previously study demonstrated that SFN regulated differentiation via disruption of actin cytoskeleton architecture in human chondrosarcoma, HTB-94 cells. In this study, we observed the molecular mechanism of SFN treatment on differentiation in human chondrosarcoma, HTB-94. We found that SFN increased the expression of type II collagen, SOX-9 and phosphorylation of AKT as determined by Western blot analysis. Also, SFN induced sulfated proteoglycan as determined by Alcian blue staining. Inhibition of PI-3K with LY294002 and Wortmannin decreased type II collagen expression. Also, Inhibition of AKT with MK2206 decreased type II collagen expression. However, activation of PI-3K with 740Y-P induced differentiation as determined by Western blot analysis and Alcian blue staining. These findings indicate that SFN regulates differentiation via PI-3K/AKT pathway in human chondrosarcoma, HTB-94 cells. (Cancer Prev Res 18, 26-32, 2013)

Keywords: Chondrosarcoma, Sulforaphane, Differentiation, PI-3K/AKT