Experimental Research On Inhibitory Effect Of Tetrandrine In Combined With Cisplantin On Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells

ObjectiveTo investigate the combinated inhibitory effect of tetrandrine with cisplatin on human breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 in vitro, in order to provide experimental basis for the treatment to Basal-like breast cancer, and hope to propose a new strategy to improving the breast cancer sufferers'prognosis.MethodsMDA-MB-231 cells of human breast cancer were cultured in vitro, the morphological changes were observed with inverted optical microscope. Firstly, the breast cancer cell-line MDA-MB-231 was treated with tetrandrine (1.25～20.0μmol/l) and cisplantin (1.0～16.0μg/ml) separately for 48 hours to select the appropriate dosage. Then tetrandrine (1.25μmol/L,2.5μmol/L) and DDP (2μg/ml,4μg/ml) were used combined to treat MDA-MB-231 cells for 48 hours. MTT assay was used to investigate their inhibitory effect on the proliferation of cancer cells. The combining effect was evaluated by the Jin's Formula. Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed to observe the cell cycle after 48 hours, which were disposaled by tetrandrine (2.5μmol/L) and DDP (4μg/ml) seperately or combined.ResultsTetrandrine at the concentration range of 2.5-20.0μmol/l significantly inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner, the breast cancer cells decreased gradually with the increasing of drug concentration (P<0.01); cisplantin at the concentration range of 2.0-16.0μg/ml significantly inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner, the breast cancer cells decreased gradually with the increasing of drug concentration (P<0.01). All the q value in the combined groups were larger than 1.15, suggested a synergistic effect. Flow cytometry of cell cycle showed that the cells in G1/S phase increased remarkably in combined group compared with the single medication group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusions1. Tetrandrine can inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner within a certain dosage range.2. Tetrandrine in an atoxic or low toxic dosage combined with DDP had a synergistic effect in suppressing the growth of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.3. The synergistic effect of tetrandrine combined with cisplatin may be related arrest of S phase.