Objective To observe the outcomes of using different concentrations of arsenic trioxide at varying phases on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and to study the mechanism of this effect. Methods The effect of arsenic trioxide on the growth of breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was observed after applying arsenic trioxide of different concentrations （0.5-16 μmol/Ｌ）. The inhibitory effect of arsenic trioxide on the cell proliferation was investigated with 3-(4，5-dimethyl-thizazol-2-yl)-2， 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and the induction of arsenic trioxide on cell apoptosis was detected by DNA ladder and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). Results The effect of arsenic trioxide on breast cancer cell line MCF-7 depended on the phase and the dose. The number of cell decreased significantly and there were conspicuously typical morphological changes of apoptosis after the use of arsenic trioxide， including membrane blebbing， chromatin pyknosis, nuclear fragmentation and the formation of apoptotic body. The typical DNA ladders were observed in the MCF-7 cells after 48 h administration of arsenic trioxide at concentrations 1-8 μmol/Ｌ. Significant elevations of apoptosis index at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h were all detected by TUNEL after incubating with 4 μmol/L arsenic trioxide. Conclusion Arsenic trioxide may inhibit the growth of breast cancer cell line MCF-7 significantly by inducing the apoptosis of breast cancer cell.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of expressions of nucleoside transporters subtype (hENT1 and hENT2) on 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) cytotoxicity in breast cancer cell lines(MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, SK-BR-3, MCF-7). MethodsFour breast cancer cell lines were chosen to detect the mRNA expressions of hENT1 and hENT2 by RT-PCR. Cells were incubated in the medium with a serial concentrations of 5-FU from 1.28×104 ng/L to 2.00×108 ng/L for 48 h. Then the cell proliferation in each cell line was measured by MTT assay and the IC50 was evaluated. Results①The mRNA expressions of hENT1 and hENT2 in the MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, or SK-BR-3 cells were significantly higher than thoes in the MCF-7 cells(P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of hENT2 was detected in the MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, or SK-BR-3 cells, not detected in the MCF-7 cells. 2MTT showed that IC50 of 5-FU in the MDAMB-231, MDA-MB-468, or SK-BR-3 cells was significantly lower than that in the MCF-7 cells(P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference of IC50 among the three lines(MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and SK-BR-3)(P > 0.05).③The three lines(MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and SK-BR-3) with lower IC50 of 5-FU highly expressed hENTs, and MCF-7 cell with the higher IC50 of 5-FU expressed less hENTs. ConclusionsThe expressions of hENTs in breast cancer cell lines can significantly influence 5-FU cytotoxic effect. It is implicated that the hENTs expressions might be the clue to the choice of nucleoside anticancer drugs in clinic.