Oleic acid inhibits the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells with stemness characteristics through oxidative stress-mediated attenuation of the FAK/AKT/NF-κB pathway

Oleic acid, found in a variety of food sources, is beneficial to health. However, studies on its anticancer effects on cancer stem cells resistant to conventional treatments and on the mechanisms underlying such effects are scarce. Here, we evaluated the anticancer effects of oleic acid against breast cancer cells with stemness characteristics. Oleic acid inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer stem-like cells more significantly than that of their respective parental cells, and reduced the expression of stem cell markers and migration and invasion propensity. It also repressed the phosphorylation of FAK, AKT, and NF-κB, proteins involved in cell migration and invasion. Oleic acid-induced increase in reactive oxygen species levels mediated the inhibition of the FAK/AKT/NF-κB signaling axis. Our study demonstrates that oleic acid-induced oxidative stress plays an important role in inhibiting the metastatic behavior of breast cancer cells with stemness characteristics and is relevant for management of treatment-resistant breast cancer.