BACKGROUND: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15-20% of all breast tumors and these breast tumors are usually aggressive and highly metastatic. Unfortunately, treatment options for TNBCs are limited; we have identified a novel molecule, 2'-3'-dehydrosalannol (DHS) and in this study we investigated the anticancer effect of DHS against TNBC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TNBC (MDA-MB 231; MDA-MB 468) cells were treated with DHS and its effect on cell viability, apoptosis and molecular mechanisms were analyzed. RESULTS: DHS inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in TNBC cell lines. Molecular analysis suggested that DHS inhibited cathepsin-mediated pro-survival signaling [pAKT: phosphorylated protein kinase B; BCL-2: B-cell lymphoma 2 and cyclin D1] and induced pro-apoptotic markers such as BAX [BCL-2-associated X protein] and cleaved caspase-3. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that DHS inhibits cathepsin-mediated pro-survival signaling which resulted in growth arrest of TNBC cells. These findings suggest that DHS may be a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of TNBC.
BACKGROUND: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15-20% of all breast tumors and these breast tumors are usually aggressive and highly metastatic. Unfortunately, treatment options for TNBCs are limited; we have identified a novel molecule, 2'-3'-dehydrosalannol (DHS) and in this study we investigated the anticancer effect of DHS against TNBC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TNBC (MDA-MB 231; MDA-MB 468) cells were treated with DHS and its effect on cell viability, apoptosis and molecular mechanisms were analyzed. RESULTS:DHS inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in TNBC cell lines. Molecular analysis suggested that DHS inhibited cathepsin-mediated pro-survival signaling [pAKT: phosphorylated protein kinase B; BCL-2: B-cell lymphoma 2 and cyclin D1] and induced pro-apoptotic markers such as BAX [BCL-2-associated X protein] and cleaved caspase-3. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that DHS inhibits cathepsin-mediated pro-survival signaling which resulted in growth arrest of TNBC cells. These findings suggest that DHS may be a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of TNBC.