ABSTRACT
AIM: The present investigation aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of the new coumarin derivative bis(4-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one) coumarin (4HC) against breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this purpose, the effects of 4HC treatment on the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and on MCF-10a non-cancerous cells were evaluated using a fluorescent assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured by image cytometry. The expression level of aromatase (CYP19A1) and apoptosis-related genes were determined by real-time PCR. RESULTS: MCF-7 mammary cancer cell proliferation was significantly decreased within 24 h after treatment with 4HC at 50 µM, while no effect was observed on the viability of MCF-10a non-cancerous mammary cells. 4HC also increased the percentage of the cells in the G2/M phase, inducing apoptosis. Real-time PCR revealed that 4HC induced MCF-7 mortality through an up-regulation of Bax and a down-regulation of Bcl-2, resulting in an increase in caspase-3 gene expression. The increased expression of apoptosis-related genes was accompanied by a decrease in CYP19A1 gene expression. CONCLUSION: 4HC selectively inhibits proliferation of MCF-7cells in vitro. Moreover, 4HC has inhibitory effects on aromatase gene expression and promoting effects on apoptosis, in MCF-7 cells.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/drug effects , Aromatase/chemistry , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Chromones/chemistry , Coumarins/chemistry , Coumarins/pharmacology , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects , Aromatase/genetics , Aromatase/metabolism , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/enzymology , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Cell Cycle/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Female , Humans , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide and a critical public health concern. Here we investigated the anticancer potential and effects of low-molecular-weight bridgehead oxygen and nitrogen-containing spiro-bisheterocycles on proliferation and apoptosis of the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. The compounds feature a hydantoin moiety attached to either diazole, isoxazole, diazepine, oxazepine or benzodiazepine via the privileged tetrahedral spiro-linkage. Treatment with compounds spiro [hydantoin-isoxazole] and spiro [hydantoin-oxazepine] resulted in a dose-dependent decrease of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in both breast cancer cell lines, whereas spiro [hydantoin-diazepine] was only active against MDA-MB 231. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed up-regulation of murine double minute 2 (MDM2), strictly p53-dependent, and detected an increase in expression of pro-apoptotic caspase 3 and BCL2-associated X (BAX) genes in both breast cancer cell lines expressing wild-type and mutant p53. In summary, the results suggest that our compounds promote apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines via p53-dependent and -independent pathways.
