title: Inhibitory effect of β-elemene on human breast cancer cells.
abstract: It has been approved for the clinical application of β-elemene to treat various cancers mainly brain tumors in China. In the present study, we found that β-elemene significantly inhibited the in vitro growth of human breast cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. In addition, β-elemene also induced the conversion of LC3-I into LC3-II as well as the formation of autolysosomes, indicating the activation of autophagy. Interestingly, inhibition of autophagy significantly potentiated the growth-inhibitory effect of β-elemene on breast cancer cells. In summary, β-elemene induced cytoprotective autophagy in human breast cancer cells in addition to apoptosis. Inhibition of autophagy significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of β-elemene to human breast cancer cells. Therefore, combination of β-elemene with autophagy inhibitors could be a promising strategy for the treatment of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Clinical Science, Sir Runrun Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chaying
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Clinical Science, Sir Runrun Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yongfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Clinical Science, Sir Runrun Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hongchuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Clinical Science, Sir Runrun Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jia
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C445979:beta-elemene
keywords: apoptosis; autophagy; breast cancer; β-elemene