Deferoxamine enhances cell migration and invasion through promotion of HIF-1α expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer.

Deferoxamine (DFX), a metal chelator, has been previously reported to induce hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression. HIF-1α is a common inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in many solid tumors. However, the effect of DFX on cancer metastasis and the related mechanisms are not well established. In the present study, we aimed to ascertain whether DFX enhances EMT and cancer metastasis in colorectal cancer. After confirmation of DFX-inducing HIF-1α expression, we examined the effect of DFX on cell adhesion, migration and invasion abilities and found a positive effect on the above functions. Consequently, cell morphology, cell growth and expression of EMT markers were assessed in cells with or without DFX treatment. We found that cells exposed to DFX were more isolated. They were spindle-shaped and looked similar to fibroblast-like cells, accompanied by increased anchorage-independent growth. DFX-treated cells expressed E-cadherin and plakoglobin at a higher level, and vimentin and N-cadherin at a lower level, when compared with these levels in control cells. Furthermore, the expression of E-cadherin in the cell membrane was markedly decreased in DFX-treated cells. These results suggest that DFX promotes cancer migration and invasion via a process consistent with EMT in colorectal cancer.