Lupeol induces autophagy and apoptosis with reduced cancer stem-like properties in retinoblastoma via phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition

Objectives To evaluate the anticancer effects of lupeol in retinoblastoma cells. Methods WERI-Rb-1 and Y-79 cell lines were used to evaluate the anticancer effect of lupeol. After lupeol treatment, the viability, proliferation, apoptosis, cancer stem-like properties, autophagy and in vivo tumour xenograft formation were detected. Key findings In this study, lupeol decreased cell viability in both WERI-Rb-1 and Y-79 cell lines. Lupeol could also inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of RB cells, with increased Bax level and decreased Ki67, survivin and Bcl-2 levels. Furthermore, lupeol could suppress the spheroid formation and stem-like properties of RB cells. Moreover, LC3 II/LC3 I ratio and the levels of Beclin1 and ATG7 were increased after lupeol treatment, indicating that lupeol could induce autophagy in RB cells. Next, the inhibitory effect of lupeol on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway was observed. In tumour-bearing mice, lupeol suppressed tumour growth, and this might relate to its role in cell apoptosis, autophagy and stem-like properties. Conclusions Lupeol suppressed proliferation and cancer stem-like properties, and promoted autophagy and apoptosis of RB cells by restraining the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.