The Effects Of Artesunate On The Proliferation And Apoptosis Of Breast Cancer Cell Lines MCF-7 And MDA-MB-231

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of artesunate on the proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines and itsassociated mechanisms.METHODS: The effects and its mechanisms of artesunate onanticancer were analyzed through cell culture ,MTT-assay, morphological examination, flow cytometric analysis and immunocytochemical staining.RESULTS: 1 Breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 were treated with artesunate(20uM-120uM) for 72hours,led to a dose dependent inhibition. IC50 values were 78.3luM (MCF-7) and 74.51 uM(MDA-MB-231),rrespectively. 2 Cell death was confirmed by the morphological examination after 72hours treatment with artesunate at 20uM. 3 Having been exposed in artesunate (20uM , 60uM 80uM) for 72hours, MDA-MB-231 cells showed G0/G1 cell cycle arrest without apoptosis. Whereas, and about 3.15% and 8.43% of them were apoptotic at 60uM 80uM, respectively, MCF-7cells exhibited G2/M and S cell cyclearrest .4 The result of immunocytochemical staining indicated treatment with artesunate(20uM) for 72hours could upregulate the expression of Bax nm23 as well as P21WAF1/CIP1 protein in MDA-MB-231 cells ; downregulate the expression of PCNA and VEGF protein; not change the expression of Bcl-2, CD44 (v6) and P21WAF1/CIP1 protein in MCF-7 cells.CONCLUSIONS:1 Artesunate could cause a growth inhibitory effects on the cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 and induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. 2 Artesunate could arrest MDA-MB-231 cells in GO/G1 and MCF-7 cells in G2/M S phase of cell cycle. 3 Artesunate could upregulate the expression of Bax nm23 protein and P21WAF1/CIP1 protein in MDA-MB-231 cells ; downregulate the expression of PCNA and VEGF protein.