S-Adenosylmethionine and Methylthioadenosine Inhibit β-Catenin Signaling by Multiple Mechanisms in Liver and Colon Cancer

S -Adenosylmethionine (SAMe), the principal methyl donor that is available as a nutritional supplement, and its metabolite methylthioadenosine (MTA) exert chemopreventive properties against liver and colon cancer in experimental models. Both agents reduced β -catenin expression on immunohistochemistry in a murine colitis-associated colon cancer model. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanisms involved. SAMe or MTA treatment in the colitis-associated cancer model lowered total β -catenin protein levels by 47 and 78%, respectively. In an orthotopic liver cancer model, increasing SAMe levels by overexpressing methionine adenosyltransferase 1A also reduced total β -catenin levels by 68%. In both cases, lower cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression correlated with lower β -catenin levels. In liver (HepG2) and colon (SW480, HCT116) cancer cells with constitutively active β -catenin signaling, SAMe and MTA treatment inhibited β -catenin activity by excluding it from the nuclear compartment. However, in liver (Huh-7) and colon (RKO) cancer cells expressing wild-type Wnt/ β -catenin, SAMe and MTA accelerated β -catenin degradation by a glycogen synthase kinase 3- β –dependent mechanism. Both agents lowered protein kinase B activity, but this was not mediated by inhibiting phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Instead, both agents increased the activity of protein phosphatase 2A, which inactivates protein kinase B. The effect of MTA on lowering β -catenin is direct and not mediated by its conversion to SAMe, as blocking this conversion had no influence. In conclusion, SAMe and MTA inhibit Wnt/ β -catenin signaling in colon and liver cancer cells regardless of whether this pathway is aberrantly induced, making them ideal candidates for chemoprevention and/or chemotherapy in these cancers.