Cancer metastasis is the primary cause of death in patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Piperine, an active nontoxic ingredient in pepper, has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. However, little is known about the anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects of piperine on colorectal cancer. We demonstrated piperine inhibited the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. Then, we found piperine reversed the biomarker expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and suppressed the EMT regulator Snail. Furthermore, signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) was downregulated by piperine. Finally, STAT3 inhibitors were applied to observe the role of STAT3 in colorectal cancer migration, invasion and EMT. Collectively, piperine inhibits colorectal cancer migratory and invasive capacities through STAT3/Snail mediated EMT. Therefore, piperine could be applied as a possible therapeutic regimen for the prevention of colorectal cancer metastasis.

中文翻译：

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胡椒碱通过调节 STAT3/Snail 介导的上皮间质转化抑制结直肠癌的迁移和侵袭

癌症转移是结直肠癌患者死亡的主要原因。胡椒碱是胡椒中的一种活性无毒成分，具有强大的抗炎和抗癌特性。然而，关于胡椒碱对结直肠癌的抗迁移和抗侵袭作用知之甚少。我们证明胡椒碱抑制结肠直肠癌细胞的迁移和侵袭。然后，我们发现胡椒碱逆转了上皮间质转化 (EMT) 的生物标志物表达，并抑制了 EMT 调节剂 Snail。此外，信号转导和转录激活因子 3 (STAT3) 被胡椒碱下调。最后，应用STAT3抑制剂观察STAT3在结直肠癌迁移、侵袭和EMT中的作用。总的来说，胡椒碱通过 STAT3/Snail 介导的 EMT 抑制结直肠癌的迁移和侵袭能力。因此，胡椒碱可作为预防结直肠癌转移的一种可能的治疗方案。