XIAP inhibitor and antiestrogen embelin abrogates metastasis and augments apoptosis in estrogen receptor positive human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7

• Published in: Molecular biology reports 2014-02, Vol.41 (2), p.935-946
• Main Authors: Sumalatha, K. R., Abiramasundari, G., Chetan, G. K., Divya, T., Sudhandiran, G., Sreepriya, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Benzoquinones - pharmacology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Breast cancer; Cell Proliferation; Cells; Estrogen Receptor Modulators - pharmacology; Estrogens; Female; Histology; Humans; Inhibitor drugs; Life Sciences; MCF-7 Cells; Metastasis; Morphology; Neoplasm Metastasis - drug therapy; Neurons; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein - antagonists & inhibitors; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein - genetics
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-013-2938-z

Tamoxifen therapy for the treatment of hormone responsive breast cancer has limitations due to acquired resistance in the case of recurrences. Embelin, a known inhibitor of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) was also reported to exhibit strong antiestrogenic effects in animal models. Dual role of embelin as a proapoptotic and antiestrogenic agent may have potential benefits in the therapy of breast cancer. In this study, the effects of embelin treatment on estrogen receptor positive Human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells was investigated to primarily understand if embelin being an antiestrogen and XIAP inhibitor could be a potential alternative to tamoxifen therapy. Results revealed that, embelin at a concentration of 65 μg/ml attenuated proliferation, inhibited metastatic migration, modulated the expression of Bcl2, Caspases and induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells which was found to be p53 mediated. Hence, chemotherapy with embelin could be a promising strategy to be experimented in hormone responsive breast cancers.