ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effects of artesunate(ART)on estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and its mechanisms.Methods Treated with ART for 3 days,MDA-MB-231 cells proliferation was examined by MTT assay.The morphological and uhrastructural changes of MDA-MB-231 cells were observed under microscope and electronic microscope.Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the expression of Bax,mn23,Bcl-2,and P21 WAFl/CIPl.Results ART treatment led to a dose dependent inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cells.ART could change the morphology and ultrastructure of MDA-MB-231 cens.After treatment with ART(2μmol/L)for 72 hours,immunocytochemical staining showed that the expression of Bax,nm23,and P21WAF1/CIP1 was upregulated in comparison to the control group(P0.05).Conclusions ART shows an anti-proliferative effect on MDA-MB-231 cells.The mechanisms may be related to upregnlation of Bax,nm23 and P21WAF1/CIP1 expression.