title: Tanshinone IIA inhibits human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by decreasing             LC3-II, Erb-B2 and NF-κBp65.
abstract: The ability of tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) to inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo is well documented. However, the molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with different concentrations of Tan-IIA for 48 h, followed by protein extraction for western blotting. For an in vivo study, MDA-MB-231 cells were implanted directly into female SCID mice which were divided randomly into three groups to be treated with vehicle, Tan-IIA (20 mg/kg) and Tan-IIA (60 mg/kg) every other day orally, with treatment starting 4 weeks after inoculation with the MDA-MB-231 cells. The results showed that Tan-IIA inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells and decreased the protein expression of LC3-II and Erb-B2 in vitro. Treatment with Tan-IIA (20 or 60 mg/kg) for 90 days resulted in a reduction in tumor size and weight compared to the control group. The protein expression of NF-κBp65 was reduced, while caspase-3 was up-regulated compared to the control group. These findings indicate that Tan-IIA inhibits tumor growth in a MDA-MB-231 xenograft animal model. One of the molecular mechanisms may be through a decrease in NF-κBp65 and an increase in caspase-3 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center, Laboratory of Integrative Medicine Cancer Research, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500-06, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chin-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Su-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Shou-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Yao-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Dar-Ren
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D053148:Caspase 3; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; C477012:MAP1LC3A protein, human; C021751:tanshinone