The potential of vitamin K3 as an anticancer agent against breast cancer that acts via the mitochondria-related apoptotic pathway.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

We tried to clarify the cytotoxic mechanism of VK(3) using the breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

METHODS:

Cytotoxicity was measured via intracellular esterase activity. DNA fragmentation was assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis. JC-1 staining was applied to measure mitochondrial dysfunction. Caspase activation and reactive oxidative species (ROS) generation were also measured.

RESULTS:

VK(3) exhibited cytotoxicity that caused DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cells with an IC(50) of 14.2 microM. JC-1 staining revealed that VK(3) caused mitochondrial dysfunction including a disappearance of mitochondrial membrane potential. Additional investigation showed that the mitochondrial damage was induced by the generation of ROS and the subsequent activation of caspase-7 and -9.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings demonstrate that VK(3)-induced apoptosis is selectively initiated by the mitochondria-related pathway and might be useful in breast cancer chemotherapy.

• Authors: Takeshi Akiyoshi, Sumio Matzno, Mika Sakai, Noboru Okamura, Kenji Matsuyama
• Journal: Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology (Cancer Chemother Pharmacol) Vol. 65 Issue 1 Pg. 143-50 (Dec 2009) ISSN: 1432-0843 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 19449007 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Vitamin K 3
• Caspase 7
• Caspase 9

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Caspase 7 (drug effects, metabolism)
• Caspase 9 (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• DNA Fragmentation (drug effects)
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
• Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
• Female
• Humans
• Inhibitory Concentration 50
• Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial (drug effects)
• Mitochondria (drug effects)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Vitamin K 3 (administration & dosage, pharmacology)