Phytoestrogen (+)-pinoresinol exerts antitumor activity in breast cancer cells with different oestrogen receptor statuses.
BACKGROUND
Consumption of virgin olive oil (VOO) has been associated with a low breast cancer incidence. Pinoresinol is a phytoestrogen that is typically found in VOO. Considering the role of oestrogen in breast cancer development and progression, we investigated the potential antitumor activity of pinoresinol in breast cancer cells.


METHODS
To address this question, we treated MDA-MB-231 (oestrogen receptor [ER] negative) and MCF7 (ER+) human breast tumour cells and MCF10A human mammary epithelial cells (ER-) with different concentrations of pinoresinol. The cytotoxic activity, cell proliferation, cell cycle profile, apoptosis induction, reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage were assessed.


RESULTS
Pinoresinol showed cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and pro-oxidant activity in human breast tumour cells, independent of their oestrogen receptor status. In addition, pinoresinol exerted antioxidant activity and prevented DNA damage associated with oxidative stress in human mammary epithelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the results suggest that pinoresinol may have antitumor activity in human breast cancer cells independently of oestrogen receptor status. Furthermore, the results show that the pinoresinol has the typical characteristics of a chemopreventive compound.
Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils. Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071, Jaén, Spain.
Alicia
A
López-Biedma
Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils. Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071, Jaén, Spain.
Cristina
C
Sánchez-Quesada
Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria, Pesquera y de la Producción Ecológica (IFAPA), Centro "Venta del Llano", 23620, Mengíbar, Jaén, Spain.
Gabriel
G
Beltrán
Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils. Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071, Jaén, Spain.|CIBER-ESP, Ministry of Health, Madrid, Spain.
Miguel
M
Delgado-Rodríguez
Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils. Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071, Jaén, Spain. jgaforio@ujaen.es.
José J
JJ
Gaforio
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005663:Furans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D017705:Lignans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000737:chemistry; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005663:Furans; D017705:Lignans; D000069463:Olive Oil; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C103298:pinoresinol
Antioxidant; Chemopreventive; Cytotoxic activity; Polyphenols; Virgin olive oil