The Cytotoxicity Effect of Recombinant Arazyme on Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cells

Objectives: Investigating new approaches to obtain an effective therapeutic agent for treating life-threatening cancers is critical. The current study aimed to assess the anti-tumor effect of the recombinant arazyme of Serratia proteamaculans on ovarian and breast cancer in vitro. Methods: The cytotoxic effects of r-arazyme against MCF-7 and SKOV3 cells were evaluated using MTT and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Potential apoptosis induction by r-arazyme was assessed using the Annexin V/PI kit. The Matrigel invasion test was used to evaluate the ability of r-arazyme to reduce cell invasion. In addition, an adhesion assay was performed. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis, apoptosis, and metastasis. Results: R-arazyme showed a high cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 and SKOV3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, r-arazyme has great apoptosis-inducing potential in both cells via the activation of caspase-3 and elevation of the BAX/BCL-2 ratio. R-arazyme significantly decreased the expression levels of the angiogenesis-related genes VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 and inhibited both cell adhesion and invasion. Conclusion: R-arazyme may eventually play an essential role in the development of effective therapies against ovarian and breast cancers, thereby reducing the overall morbidity and death caused by cancer.