Apoptosisª²promoting effect of resveratrol combined with 5ª²FU on human breast cancer cell line MCF7

    LI Yan, XING Keª²Fei, LI Fuª²Yang, WANG Yun, YAO Liª²Bo, LIU Xinª²Ping

    Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China, Xi¬ðan Greenpharma Natural Medicine Lab, Xi¬ðan 710075, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate whether 5ª²FU in combination with resveratrol can accelerate the apoptosis of human breast cancer cell line MCF7 in vitro. METHODS: Four breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, MDAª²MBª²231, SKª²BRª²3 and Bcapª²37) were incubated with different concentrations of resveratrol or/and 5ª²FU for 48 h, then cell survival rate was measured by MTT assay and cell morphological change was observed by phase contrast microscope. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry (Annexin V/PI staining) analysis and Hoechst33258 staining. RESULTS: Resveratrol could inhibit the growth of MCF7, MDAª²MBª²231, SKª²BRª²3 and Bcapª²37 to different extents. The IC50 values of resveratrol in MCF7, MDAª²MBª²231, SKª²BRª²3 and Bcapª²37 cells were 65, 207, 139 and 213 ¦Ìmol/L, respectively. The IC50 value of 5ª²FU in MCF7 cells was 13 ¦Ìmol/L. When 5ª²FU and 65 ¦Ìmol/L resveratrol were combined, the IC50 value of 5ª²FU in MCF7 cells was decreased to 9 ¦Ìmol/L. Compared with the treatment with 13 ¦Ìmol/L 5ª²FU or 65 ¦Ìmol/L resveratrol alone, the percentage of Annexin V(+)/PI(-) MCF7 cells increased when these 2 drugs were used in combination. The number of apoptotic MCF7 cells calculated with flow cytometry was accordant with the result got with Hoechst33258 staining. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol interacts synergistically with 5ª²FU to induce the apoptosis of MCF7 cells, which suggests that resveratrol is a secondary chemotherapeutic medicine for treating breast cancer. ......