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Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1871-5206
ISSN (Online): 1875-5992

Research Article

Inhibition of Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in Response to Treatment with Metformin and Y27632 in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Author(s): Camila Leonel, Lívia Carvalho Ferreira, Thaiz Ferraz Borin, Marina Gobbe Moschetta, Gabriela Scavacini Freitas, Michel Raineri Haddad, João Antonio de Camargos Pinto Robles and Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari*

Volume 17, Issue 8, 2017

Page: [1113 - 1125] Pages: 13

DOI: 10.2174/1871520617666170102153954

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: ROCK-1 expression is associated with the malignant character of tumors, while inhibiting this molecule results in a significant suppression of tumor metastasis. Likewise, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is associated with this malignancy by having the ability to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Metformin, a drug used in the treatment of diabetes, has previously been shown to inhibit EMT in breast cancer cells.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the TGF-β1 action model for induction of EMT and the action of metformin and ROCK-1 inhibitor (Y27632) in EMT process in breast cancer cell lines.

Method: MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were treated with metformin and Y27632, after induction of EMT by TGF-β1, to examine the effects on cell migration as well as the protein expression of the ROCK-1 markers, vimentin, E-cadherin, CD44 and CD24 by immunocitochemistry.

Results: There was a lower protein expression of ROCK-1, vimentin, CD44 and CD24 in both cell lines after treatment with metformin and Y27632. In MDA-MB-231 cells, E-cadherin expression was increased in all treatment groups. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cell line with metformin and Y27632 significantly reduced the invasion of these cells.

Conclusion: This study confirms the benefits of metformin and Y27632 as potential therapeutic agents in mammary tumors, by blocking EMT process and metastatic potential.

Keywords: Breast cancer, anticarcinogenic agents, TGF-β, EMT, ROCK1, metformin.

Graphical Abstract

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