title: Comparative effects between fucoxanthinol and its precursor fucoxanthin on viability and apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated whether low doses of the natural carotenoid fucoxanthin and/or of its metabolite fucoxanthinol are effective against proliferation of estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 and estrogen-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  These cell lines were stimulated with 10 to 20 μM fucoxanthin and/or fucoxanthinol, followed by cell viability assays, Annexin V immunofluorescence to evaluate apoptosis, as well as mRNA and protein extractions for changes in nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) members' expressions and nuclear translocations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol reduced the viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a time-dependent manner as a result of increased apoptosis. In both cell lines, modulatory actions of fucoxanthinol on members of the NF-κB pathway were more pronounced than that of fucoxanthin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In MDA-MB-231 cells, fucoxanthinol reduced nuclear levels of NF-κB members' p65, p52 and RelB. Fucoxanthinol and fucoxanthin could be effective for the treatment and/or prevention of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada.
authors.forename: Arlette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rwigemera
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mamelona
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada Luc.Martin@umoncton.ca.
authors.forename: Luc J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C527932:SOX9 protein, human; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; C025164:fucoxanthin; C483031:fucoxanthinol
keywords: Fucoxanthin; MCF-7; MDA-MB-231; NF-κB; SOX9; fucoxanthinol