Research on tumorigenicity of cinnamaldehyde in melanoma cell lines and its mechanism

Melanoma is a highly malignant tumor originating from melanocytes. This disease is characterized by inconspicuous onset, high malignancy, and poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of cinnamaldehyde on melanoma tumorigenicity and its mechanism. Melanoma cells were subcutaneously injected into a nude mouse to establish the tumour model. A comparison was made for the difference in formation and growth of melanoma cell tumor between normal saline and cinnamaldehyde. A comparison was also made for the number of new vessels between the normal saline group (the control group) and the cinnamaldehyde group (the experimental group) through immumohistochemical staining. The western blot was used to detect the difference in expression levels of vascularization related proteins. The results indicated that the volume of tumors formed and the number of new vessels in melanoma cells of the cinnamaldehyde group decreased significantly compared with those in the cells of the normal saline group. A further study indicated that the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-a (HIF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the melanoma of the cinnamaldehyde group decreased significantly. In conclusion, cinnamaldehyde plays a certain role in inhibiting the occurrence and progression of melanoma and its action mechanism may be manifested by inhibiting expression of VEGF and HIF-α, thus blood vessel simulation and formation of new blood vessels of melanoma cells, and growth of tumors accordingly.