Diphenyl difluoroketone inhibits energy metabolism and biological behavior of lung cancer cells by down-regulating glucose transporter 1 expression

The present study is to evaluate the effect of diphenyl difluoroketone (EF24), an analogue of curcumin, on energy metabolism and biological behavior of lung cancer A549 cells. Glut1 protein and mRNA expression levels were examined by Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. After EF24 treatment, glucose uptake and the rate of glycolysis were measured. In addition, transwell assay was used to determine the invasive ability of A549 cells. The proliferation ability of A549 cells was detected using MTT assay. Glut1 protein and mRNA expression in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues or normal lung tissues. EF24 treatment significantly down-regulated the expression of Glut1 in a dose-dependent manner in A549 cells. In addition, glucose uptake and the rate of glycolysis of A549 cells were also decreased by treatment with EF24. Invasion and proliferation of A549 cells were inhibited by treatment with EF24. The presents study demonstrates that EF24 exerts inhibitory effects on energy metabolism and biological behavior in A549 cells probably through down-regulation of Glut1 expression. EF24 can be a possible drug candidate for the treatment of lung cancer.