title: IL-1 does not reverse the anti-proliferative effect of aspirin in breast cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine. There have been studies suggesting a role in affecting growth and invasiveness of malignant breast cells by either blocking or stimulating growth of cultured MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This effect may be mediated by induction of COX-2. Aspirin is an inhibitor of COX-2 and has been implicated, with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in prevention and treatment of breast cancer. In this study the in vitro effects of IL-1 and aspirin on growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  MCF-7 cells were treated with various concentrations of IL-1 and aspirin alone and in combination. Cell growth was assessed by cell number measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aspirin significantly decreased growth rate in a dose-dependent manner, alone and as a combined treatment with IL-1 with a maximum reduction in growth rate at 300 mg/ml (P < 0.05). Treatment with IL-1 alone showed no significant effect on growth rate of MCF-7 cells (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that aspirin suppresses the proliferation rate of MCF-7 cells both as a single agent and in combination with IL-1. It also suggests that IL-1 alone does not stimulate or inhibit growth of MCF-7 cells.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Kingston University, Surrey KT1 2EE, UK. p.sali@kingston.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sali
authors.forename: Andrew Paul
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Jewell