RESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIM: The anticancer potential of indomethacin and diclofenac has been reported against several types of cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the enhancement effect of a coumaric acid derivative found in some Piper plants, N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine (TCT) on indomethacin and diclofenac cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MCF-7 and mitoxantrone-resistant MCF-7 (MCF-7/MX) cancer cells were treated with indomethacin or diclofenac in the presence of TCT for 48 h. Cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial function and signaling proteins were assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Hoechst 33342, tetramethyl-rhodamine-ethyl-ester and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Combination treatment resulted in significant reduction of cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas the ratio of BCL2-associated X, apoptosis regulator to BCL2 apoptosis regulator, and apoptosis increased. The enhancing effect of TCT was related to reduced nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 expression, and increased activation of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase/eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha/activating transcription factor 4/C/EBP homologous protein signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: TCT in combination with indomethacin or diclofenac promoted endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
