title: The efficacy of betulinic acid in triple-negative breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The treatment of triple-negative breast cancer remains a daunting challenge with the standard-of-care treatments eventually failing due to acquired drug resistance, toxic side effects and the presence of a deregulated immune response. New treatments for overcoming these drawbacks include the use of plant extracts.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the efficacy of betulinic acid, a naturally abundant phytochemical exhibiting anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activity, has been evaluated for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. Furthermore, the ability of betulinic acid to inhibit angiogenesis was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we report that betulinic acid was able to inhibit the inflammatory response, inhibit angiogenesis and cause cell cycle arrest ultimately causing apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Our findings support that the identification of naturally occurring anti-tumour compounds may provide a chemotherapeutic approach for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, our results provide a molecular basis for the ability of betulinic acid to mediate apoptosis, suppress inflammation and inhibit angiogenesis in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Department of Health Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Mixia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Pengwei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Janelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wheat
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Biomedical Science, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Zaynab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Al-Eisawi
keywords: Triple-negative breast cancer; betulinic acid; drug resistance; phytochemical; toxicity