Cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis by beta galactoside binding protein (beta GBP) in human mammary cancer cells. A potential new approach to cancer control.

Conflict between mitogenic pressure, as is the case in tumour cells and an imposed inability to proceed through the cell cycle may result in cell death. In the present study we examined the effect of beta galactoside binding protein (beta GBP), a negative growth factor which controls cell cycle transition from S phase into G2, on three human mammary cell lines which differ for oncogenic potential, oestrogen receptor expression and expression of the EGF receptor family. We found that in all cases beta GBP induced a cell cycle block prior to the cells' entry into G2 and that this was followed by progressive apoptotic death. This evidence on epithelial cancer cells parallels previous data on tumour cells of mesenchymal origin and suggests that beta GBP has potential therapeutic implications in the treatment of cancers.