title: Tamoxifen and tranilast show a synergistic effect against breast cancer in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed at examining a separate or combined effect of tamoxifen and tranilast drugs on growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Tamoxifen is the most widely used anti-estrogen for the treatment of breast cancer. Studies show that a combination therapy with other drugs enhances the activity of tamoxifen. Tranilast is an anti-inflammatory drug. We hypothesize that tranilast plus tamoxifen can work synergistically and help getting better result from this anticancer drug.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were treated with graduated concentrations of tamoxifen and tranilast alone or in combination at 24, 48 or 72 hours for MCF-7, and 48 hours for MDA-MB-231 cells. We used the MTT assay and lactate dehydrogenase leakage (LDH) assay to evaluate cell viability and cytotoxicity, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer cell lines, the combination of tranilast and tamoxifen was more effective in growth inhibition than single drug exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have demonstrated that by means of a synergistic/additive inhibitory effect, tranilast was capable of enhancing the in vitro activity of tamoxifen on breast cancer cell lines. Based on the results obtained in this study, tranilast could be a candidate drug for combination therapy in resistant breast cancer patients (Fig. 9, Ref. 17).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  breast cancer, Tamoxifen, Tranilast, LDH release, MTT.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Darakhshan
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ghanbari
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Gholami Rad
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bidmeshki Pour
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates; D013629:Tamoxifen; C012293:tranilast