Abstract LB444: Disruption of oncogenic signaling by <i>Albizia julibrissin</i> leaf extract induces EGFR-mediated apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells

Abstract Pancreatic cancer, characterized by its late-stage diagnosis, rapid progression, and poor prognosis, represents a significant global health burden as the seventh leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Current therapeutic options are limited by resistance and significant toxicity, underscoring the urgent need for novel, effective, and safer treatments. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer potential of Albizia julibrissin leaf extract (AJLE), prepared as a hot water extract, using comprehensive in vitro and in vivo models. To evaluate the anti-cancer effects of Albizia julibrissin leaf extract (AJLE), we conducted a series of in vitro assays, including WST-1 cell viability, colony formation, cell cycle analysis via flow cytometry, and western blotting for apoptotic markers. Mechanistic insights were gained through receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) array, while xenograft mouse models were employed to assess the in vivo therapeutic potential. Our findings revealed that AJLE significantly inhibits pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, reduces colony formation, and induces cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 phase. Apoptosis was confirmed by increased levels of cleaved PARP and caspase-3, alongside nuclear morphological changes observed via fluorescence microscopy. Mechanistically, AJLE suppressed MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways while upregulating EGFR expression, highlighting EGFR-mediated apoptosis as a novel and significant mechanism underlying its anti-cancer effects. In vivo, AJLE treatment resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in tumor growth with no significant toxicity to the liver or kidney, as confirmed by histopathological and serum analyses. The increased expression of cleaved caspase-3 in AJLE-treated tumors further corroborated the apoptotic mechanism. Therefore, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of AJLE as a natural product-based anti-cancer agent for pancreatic cancer, offering a promising, targeted, and less toxic complementary treatment option to conventional therapies. Citation Format: Sung Min Bae, Sang-Chul Han, Sung Eun Bae, Seon-A Yoon, Hyejin Hyeon, Young-Min Ham, Ji-Gweon Park, Yong-Hwan Jung, Hye-Jin Boo. Disruption of oncogenic signaling by Albizia julibrissin leaf extract induces EGFR-mediated apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_2):Abstract nr LB444.