Experimental Study on Inhibition of Bioactivity of Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells by Emodin

Aim: The purpose of this study was to explain the effects and mechanisms of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer treatment. Methods: The MCF-7/TAMR were divided into 3 groups, Normal, Emo-L and Emo-H groups. Measuring the cell activities by MTT assay, the cell apoptosis were evaluated by Hoechst 33258 staining; the cell cycle were measured by flow cytometry; the cell invasion and migration abilities were measured by transwell assay; the cell tube forming ability were measured by tubule formation experiment; the relative proteins expressions were evaluated by WB assay. Results: By MTT and Hoechst 33258 assay, compared with Normal group, the cell viability of Emo treated groups were significantly suppressed (P < 0.05, respectively) with apoptosis cell number significantly increasing (P < 0.05, respectively) with dose-dependent (P < 0.05, respectively). And the G1 phase rate of Emo treated groups were significantly up-regulation compared with that of Normal group with dose-dependent (P < 0.05, respectively). By transwell assay and tubule formation experiment, the invasion and migration cell number and relative tubule number rate of Emo treated groups were significantly down-regulation (P < 0.05, respectively) compared with those of Normal group with dose-dependent (P < 0.05, respectively). By WB assay, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR rates, VEGF, Vimentin, MMP-2 and E-cadherin proteins expressions of Emo treated groups were significantly differences (P < 0.05, respectively) compared with those of Normal group with dose-dependent (P < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Emodin could suppress MCF-7/TAMR biological activities in vitro study.