Effects Of Calycosin On Migration And Invasion Of Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro And The Expression Regulation Of Related Genes

Objective:To explore the effects of calycosin on the invasive and migration ability of estrogen receptor(ER)-positive human breast cancer cells MCF-7 and ER-negative human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231,as well as the the possible underlying mechanism.Methods: MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were respectively treated with different concentrations of calycosin(0,50,100,100 μM);Transwell experiment and cell wound healing assay were used to detect the effects of calycosin on the abilities of invasion and migration for each cell line;Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the expression levels of TGF-beta 1,c-Jun,MMP-9 and VEGF in different groups of cells treated with or without calycosin.Results:(1)Calycosin significantly inhibited the migration of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells(P < 0.05),and the scratch closure rates were inversely proportional to the calycosin concentration.The lowest scratch closure rate was found inMDA-MB-231 cells treated with 150 μM calycosin for 72 h,and the wound area was(67 ± 13)% of the control group.(2)Calycosin significantly inhibited the invasive ability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a concentration-dependent manner(P < 0.05 or 0.01),with lowest migration rate in cells treated with 150 μM calycosin(24 ± 22% for MDA-MB-231 and 38 ± 27% for MCF-7).(3)Subsequent to the decreased expression of TGF-beta 1 and c-Jun in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells,calycosin significantly reduced the levels of MMP-9and VEGF(P < 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion: Calycosin could suppress the invasion and migration of human breast cancer cells MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231,with the inhibitory effect being more pronounced on MDA-MB-231 cells than MCF-7 cells.The inhibition is probably mediated by reduced the TGF-beta 1,and c-Jun levels,and then reducing VEGF and MMP-9 expression.