title: Synergistic anti-cancer activity of the combination of dihydroartemisinin and doxorubicin in breast cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exhibits potent anti-malarial and anti-cancer activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of a combination of DHA and doxorubicin (DOX) on human breast cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  MTT assay and the combination index (CI) were used to show the anti-proliferative effects and calculate the synergism potential, respectively. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect apoptosis and the intracellular accumulation of DOX. JC-1 staining was used to determine the mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression of some apoptosis-related molecules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asynergistic anti-proliferative effect was found, and the enhanced anti-cancer activity was observed to be accompanied by the prompt onset of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. The combinative treatment remarkably decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and activated caspase cascades more than the mono-treatment. Pretreatment with DHA also did not influence the accumulation of DOX in MCF-7 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study presented a new opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of future treatment regimens of breast cancer using DOX.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Sheng
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jin-Jian
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jia-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ming-Qing
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Xiu-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; C039060:artenimol; D004317:Doxorubicin; D020169:Caspases