Rhein Induces Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cells

• Published in: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine Vol. 2012; no. 2012; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Lin, Cheng-Wen, Song, Ming-Zhang, Kao, Ming-Ching, Way, Tzong-Der, Lin, Hui-Yi, Chan, Hong-Lin, Chang, Ching-Yao, Lin, Ying-Ju
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2012; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Anthraquinone; Apoptosis; Breast cancer; Cancer therapies; Caspase; Caspase-9; Cell cycle; Chemotherapy; ErbB-2 protein; Flow cytometry; Gene amplification; Kinases; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; NF-κB protein; Oxidative stress; p53 Protein; Plasmids; Tumors; United States > US
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288; 1741-4288
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/952504

Human breast cancers cells overexpressing HER2/neu are more aggressive tumors with poor prognosis, and resistance to chemotherapy. This study investigates antiproliferation effects of anthraquinone derivatives of rhubarb root on human breast cancer cells. Of 7 anthraquinone derivatives, only rhein showed antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on both HER2-overexpressing MCF-7 (MCF-7/HER2) and control vector MCF-7 (MCF-7/VEC) cells. Rhein induced dose- and time-dependent manners increase in caspase-9-mediated apoptosis correlating with activation of ROS-mediated activation of NF-κB- and p53-signaling pathways in both cell types. Therefore, this study highlighted rhein as processing anti-proliferative activity against HER2 overexpression or HER2-basal expression in breast cancer cells and playing important roles in apoptotic induction of human breast cancer cells.