Effects of vitamin D-binding protein-derived macrophage-activating factor on human breast cancer cells.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Searching for additional therapeutic tools to fight breast cancer, we investigated the effects of vitamin D-binding protein-derived macrophage activating factor (DBP-MAF, also known as GcMAF) on a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The effects of DBP-MAF on proliferation, morphology, vimentin expression and angiogenesis were studied by cell proliferation assay, phase-contrast microscopy, immunohistochemistry and western blotting, and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.

RESULTS:

DBP-MAF inhibited human breast cancer cell proliferation and cancer cell-stimulated angiogenesis. MCF-7 cells treated with DBP-MAF predominantly grew in monolayer and appeared to be well adherent to each other and to the well surface. Exposure to DBP-MAF significantly reduced vimentin expression, indicating a reversal of the epithelial/mesenchymal transition, a hallmark of human breast cancer progression.

CONCLUSION:

These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the known anticancer efficacy of DBP-MAF can be ascribed to different biological properties of the molecule that include inhibition of tumour-induced angiogenesis and direct inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, migration and metastatic potential.

• Authors: Stefania Pacini, Tiziana Punzi, Gabriele Morucci, Massimo Gulisano, Marco Ruggiero
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) Vol. 32 Issue 1 Pg. 45-52 (Jan 2012) ISSN: 1791-7530 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 22213287 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Macrophage-Activating Factors
• Vimentin
• Vitamin D-Binding Protein
• vitamin D-binding protein-macrophage activating factor

Topics

• Blotting, Western
• Breast Neoplasms (blood supply, metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Movement
• Cell Proliferation
• Chorioallantoic Membrane (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Macrophage-Activating Factors (metabolism)
• Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
• Neovascularization, Pathologic
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Vimentin (metabolism)
• Vitamin D-Binding Protein (metabolism)