Novel Seed Peptide Sensitizes Breast Cancer Cells to Aspirin-Arrested Cell Cycle

Strategic Insights -

Researchers have published a study that reveals a novel seed peptide, lunasin, sensitizes human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells to aspirin-arrested cell cycle and induces apoptosis. The study highlights the potential of combining aspirin and lunasin to prevent or treat breast cancer. According to the study, both aspirin and lunasin inhibit human estrogen-independent breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The compounds act synergistically to induce apoptosis and modulate the expression of genes encoding G1 and S-phase regulatory proteins.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that aspirin and lunasin inhibit human estrogen-independent breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.
  • The compounds act synergistically to induce apoptosis and modulate the expression of genes encoding G1 and S-phase regulatory proteins.
  • The cell growth inhibitory effect of a lunasin/aspirin combination is achieved, at least partially, by modulating the expression of genes encoding G1 and S-phase regulatory proteins.
  • Lunasin/aspirin therapy exerts its potent pro-apoptotic effect is at least partially achieved through modulating the extrinsic-apoptosis dependent pathway.
  • Synergistic down-regulatory effects were observed for ERBB2, AKT1, PIK3R1, FOS, and JUN signaling genes.
  • The amplification of these genes has been reported as being responsible for breast cancer cell growth and resistance to apoptosis.
  • The study suggests that a combination of aspirin and lunasin is a promising strategy to prevent or treat breast cancer.

Statistics:

  • 186(2):127-34 is the page number of the study in Chemico-biological Interactions.
  • The study was published in 2010 in Chemico-biological Interactions.
  • 5 genes (ERBB2, AKT1, PIK3R1, FOS, and JUN) showed synergistic down-regulatory effects.
  • The study was conducted on human estrogen-independent breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.
  • The study used real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) array to evaluate molecular targets involved in cell cycle control, apoptosis, and signal transduction.

Sources:

  • Chemico-biological Interactions, 2010;186(2):127-34: "Lunasin, a novel seed peptide, sensitizes human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells to aspirin-arrested cell cycle and induced apoptosis." (C.C. Hsieh et al.)
  • University of California Berkeley, Dept. of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, CA 94720-3104 USA (C.C. Hsieh)