Fig. 8

Schematic representation of mechanisms underlying vernodalin-induced cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells. Vernodalin treatment inhibits the activation of PI3K/Akt pathway, which enhances accumulation of nuclear FOXO3a in MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells. Nuclear FOXO3a promotes the transcription and expression of Bim, which could activate Bax and causes cell death or apoptosis. On the other hand, FOXO3a upregulates p21Cip1/waf1, p27Kip1, downregulates cyclin D1 and cyclin E leading to cell cycle arrest