Plant-Based Flavonoids Show Promise in Targeting Bladder Cancer Cells, Say Baylor Researchers.

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified natural plant compounds known as flavonoids that show toxicity against bladder cancer cells, offering potential leads for developing new cancer treatments. Their findings, published in Pharmacological Research—Natural Products, were made possible by a combination of advanced microscopy and a custom-built image analysis platform.

Leading the study was Dr. Michael Mancini, professor of molecular and cellular biology and director of Baylor’s Integrated Microscopy Core and the Gulf Coast Consortium Center for Advanced Microscopy and Image Informatics (CAMII). Mancini and his team employed “Cell Painting,” a high-throughput microscopy technique that visualizes detailed cellular structures. This method allows scientists to quantify subtle changes in thousands of cells exposed to different compounds.

“Cell Painting allows us to visualize how compounds interact with various internal cell structures,” explained Mancini. “This helps us better understand their mechanism of action.”

The technique produces massive volumes of data—over 57,000 confocal images per scanned plate—making manual analysis impractical. To overcome this, the team developed a computational tool in 2024 called SPACe, or Swift Phenotypic Analysis of Cells. This software enables researchers to efficiently examine large datasets and detect cell population differences using standard desktop computers, making it accessible to a wide range of laboratories.

Using Cell Painting and SPACe, the researchers screened 244 different flavonoids for their effects on bladder cancer cells. They found six compounds that were particularly effective in killing the cancer cells. Among these were two known toxic flavonoids, flavopiridol and rotenone, which helped validate the study’s accuracy.

Further analysis revealed that some flavonoids caused DNA damage in the cancer cells, while others disrupted mitochondrial function, impairing the cells’ energy production.

“Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the U.S., with more than 16,000 deaths each year,” said Dr. Michael J. Bolt, assistant professor of molecular and cellular biology and the study’s first author. “Current treatments have limitations, so our goal was to discover new flavonoids with therapeutic potential.”

To strengthen their findings, the team tested the most promising compounds in more physiologically relevant 3D models—spheroids and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) systems. Three flavonoids significantly reduced tumor growth in these models without affecting healthy bladder cells.

One standout compound was xanthohumol, found in certain beers. It reduced cancer cell viability by decreasing lipid metabolism and lowering the number of lipid droplets within the cells. “It would be interesting to study bladder cancer rates among individuals who frequently consume xanthohumol-rich beers,” Bolt noted.

Other compounds, including deguelin, cardamonin, and biochanin A, also showed toxicity toward cancer cells without directly affecting DNA, suggesting alternative pathways of action.

“Flavonoids are present in many foods and drinks, and some may naturally help protect against disease,” said Mancini. “With tools like Cell Painting and SPACe, we can now study these compounds more efficiently and uncover their therapeutic value.”

The researchers plan to advance their work by testing these flavonoids in animal models with human bladder tumors. If successful, clinical trials may follow, aiming to integrate these natural compounds into future cancer treatment strategies.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-high-throughput-microscopy-analysis-flavonoids.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.