Effects of ginsenoside compound K combined with cisplatin on the proliferation, apoptosis and epithelial mesenchymal transition in MCF-7 cells of human breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer seriously harms the health of women and there are currently few therapeutic options for patients with breast cancer.


OBJECTIVE
Effects of ginsenoside compound K (CK) in combination with cisplatin (DDP) on the proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of MCF-7 cells were studied.


METHODS
MCF-7 cells were divided into CK (50 μmol/L) group, DDP (10 mg/L) group, CK (50 μmol/L) +DDP (10 mg/L) group, and control (CON) group. The cells in the CON group were not treated with any drugs. Proliferation, apoptosis, expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, protein kinase B (Akt), phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), and level of fibronectin (FN) in MCF-7 cells were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), flow cytometry, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.


RESULTS
The proliferation inhibition rates in CK, DDP, and CK + DDP groups at 48 h were 19.18 ± 2.25, 21.34 ± 2.84, and 43.37 ± 5.62, respectively. The apoptosis rates were 2.85 ± 0.56, 13.37 ± 2.28, 20.04 ± 2.92, and 30.78 ± 4.64 at 24 h and 3.14 ± 0.72, 20.36 ± 3.28, 27.58 ± 4.09, and 41.62 ± 5.83 at 48 h in CON, CK, DDP, and CK + DDP groups, respectively. CK or DDP alone and their combination all could reduce the levels of N-cadherin, vimentin, p-Akt/Akt, and FN and elevate level of E-cadherin.


CONCLUSIONS
Both CK and DDP can inhibit the proliferation, EMT, and induce the apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which may be related to the PI3K/Akt pathway. In addition, the combination of CK with DDP can produce a better effect.
a The Medical Department in Second Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , PR China ;
Keqiang
K
Zhang
b Nursing College of Jilin University , Changchun , PR China.
Yuwei
Y
Li
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells
D002945:Cisplatin; D036145:Ginsenosides; C112772:ginsenoside compound K
Anticancer; PI3K/Akt pathway; carcinoma