We have shown that exposure of the HER2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer cells to apigenin resulted in induction of apoptosis by depleting HER2/neu protein and, in turn, suppressing the signaling of the HER2/HER3-PI3K/Akt pathway. Here, we examined whether inhibition of this pathway played a role in the anti-tumor effect. The results revealed that treatment with apigenin induced apoptosis through cytochrome c release and caused a rapid induction of caspase-3 activity and stimulated proteolytic cleavage of DFF-45. Furthermore, apigenin downregulated cyclin D1, D3 and Cdk4 and increased p27 protein levels. Colony formation in the soft agar assay, a hallmark of the transformation phenotype, was preferentially suppressed in HER2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer cells in the presence of apigenin. In addition, a structure–activity relationship study indicated that (1) the position of B ring; and (2) the existence of the 3′, 4′-hydroxyl group on the 2-phenyl group were important for the depletion of HER2/neu protein by flavonoids. These results provided new insights into the structure–activity relationship of flavonoids.
