BACKGROUND: Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exhibits potent anti-malarial and anti-cancer activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of a combination of DHA and doxorubicin (DOX) on human breast cancer cells. METHODS: MTT assay and the combination index (CI) were used to show the anti-proliferative effects and calculate the synergism potential, respectively. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect apoptosis and the intracellular accumulation of DOX. JC-1 staining was used to determine the mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression of some apoptosis-related molecules. RESULTS: Asynergistic anti-proliferative effect was found, and the enhanced anti-cancer activity was observed to be accompanied by the prompt onset of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. The combinative treatment remarkably decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and activated caspase cascades more than the mono-treatment. Pretreatment with DHA also did not influence the accumulation of DOX in MCF-7 cells. CONCLUSION: This study presented a new opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of future treatment regimens of breast cancer using DOX.
BACKGROUND:Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exhibits potent anti-malarial and anti-cancer activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of a combination of DHA and doxorubicin (DOX) on humanbreast cancer cells. METHODS:MTT assay and the combination index (CI) were used to show the anti-proliferative effects and calculate the synergism potential, respectively. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect apoptosis and the intracellular accumulation of DOX. JC-1 staining was used to determine the mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression of some apoptosis-related molecules. RESULTS: Asynergistic anti-proliferative effect was found, and the enhanced anti-cancer activity was observed to be accompanied by the prompt onset of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. The combinative treatment remarkably decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and activated caspase cascades more than the mono-treatment. Pretreatment with DHA also did not influence the accumulation of DOX in MCF-7 cells. CONCLUSION: This study presented a new opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of future treatment regimens of breast cancer using DOX.
Authors: Sherihan Salaheldin Abdelhamid Ibrahim; Sarah A Abd El-Aal; Ahmed M Reda; Samar El Achy; Yasmine Shahine Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2022-07-07 Impact factor: 4.996
Authors: Roger A Vaughan; Nicholas P Gannon; Randi Garcia-Smith; Yamhilette Licon-Munoz; Miguel A Barberena; Marco Bisoffi; Kristina A Trujillo Journal: Mol Cancer Date: 2014-01-24 Impact factor: 27.401