Carvacrol Promotes Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis through PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells
CHINESE JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
Authors: Mari, Ashok; Mani, Gopikrishnan; Nagabhishek, Sirpu Natesh; Balaraman, Gopalakrishnan; Subramanian, Nirmala; Mirza, Fathima Bushra; Sundaram, Jagan; Thiruvengadam, Devaki
Abstract
Objective To examine the role of carvacrol in modulating PI3K/AKT signaling involved in human breast cancer pathogenesis usingin vitroexperimental model MCF-7 cells. Methods MTT and lactate dehydrogenase assays were performed with cells treated with different doses of carvacrol (0-250 p mol/L) at different time points (24 and 48 h). The nuclear morphology was assessed in MCF-7 cells with propidium iodide (PI) and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. Events like cell cycle arrest, apoptosis was observed by flow cytometric analysis and expressions of p-Rb, cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), CDK6, Bax, Bcl-2, PI3K/p-AKT was analyzed by immunoblot. Results Carvacrol significantly reduced cell viability with the half maximal inhibitory concentration value of 200 mu mol/L at 24 and 48 h (P<0.05). importantly, there was a significant increase in the accumulation of the G(0)/G(1)phase upon treatment with carvacrol in MCF-7 cells (PP<0.01). A remarkable decrease in protein expressions of p-Rb, cyclin D1, CDK4 and CDK6 denotes cell cycle arrest (PP<0.01). In addition, carvacrol treatment significantly inhibited PI3K/p-AKT protein expressions leading to induction of apoptosis mediated by decreased Bcl2 and increased Bax protein expressions. Further, Annexin V/PI staining by FACS analysis, dual staining by AO/EB and PI staining studies suggests induction of apoptosis by carvacrol through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in MCF-7 cells. Conclusion Carvacrol significantly inhibited the breast cancer MCF-7 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis via suppressing PI3/AKT signaling pathway.
Assessment of stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and immunohistochemical features in invasive micropapillary breast carcinoma with long-term outcomes
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
Authors: Deman, Frederik; Punie, Kevin; Laenen, Annouschka; Neven, Patrick; Oldenburger, Eva; Smeets, Ann; Nevelsteen, Ines; Van Ongeval, Chantal; Baten, Adinda; Faes, Timothy; Christiaens, Melissa; Janssen, Hilde; Weltens, Caroline; Desmedt, Christine; Wildiers, Hans; Floris, Giuseppe
Abstract
Purpose We studied the long-term outcomes of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPCs) of the breast in relation to stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs), prognostic biomarkers and clinicopathological features. Methods Stage I-III IMPCs treated with upfront surgery at our institution (January 2000 and December 2016) were included. Central pathology review was performed and sTILs (including zonal distribution and hot spot analysis) and tumor-associated plasma cells (TAPC) were evaluated. Expression of P53, BCL2, FOXP3, and WT1, which are variably linked to breast cancer prognosis, was measured by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays. Time-to-event endpoints were distant recurrence free interval (DRFI) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS). Results We included 111 patients of whom 59% were pure IMPCs. Standard clinicopathological features were comparable between pure and non-pure IMPCs. Overall, the mean sTILs level was 20% with higher proportion of sTILs present at the invasive front. There were no significant differences between pure- and non-pure IMPCs in sTILs levels, nor in the spatial distribution of the hot spot regions or in the distribution of TAPC. Higher sTILs correlated with worse DRFI (HR = 1.55;p = 0.0172) and BCSS (HR = 2.10;p < 0.001). Conclusions Clinicopathological features, geographical distribution of sTILs and TAPC are similar between pure and non-pure IMPCs. Despite a high proportion of grade 3 tumors and lymph node involvement, we observed a low rate of distant recurrences and breast cancer-related death in this cohort of stage I-III IMPCs treated with primary surgery. Caution in interpretation of the observed prognostic correlations is required given the very low number of events, warranting validation in other cohorts.