Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Several common approaches to cancer management are being used, but many cancer patients develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs. Here we describe the antiproliferative effect of the combination of vitamin D and pitavastatin against breast cancer cells. Aims: To determine the combined cytotoxic effect of both vitamin D and pitavastatin on the MCF7 breast cancer cell line and to study the mechanism of action behind this effect. Methods: In vitro experimental study using the MCF7 estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells. The effective doses of the combinations were determined by MTT, and western blotting was used to determine the different protein levels. Results: The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of vitamin D and pitavastatin on MCF7 cells were 5.1 μM and 5.5 μM, respectively. However, when the cells were pre-treated with a low dose of vitamin D (1μM) the new pitavastatin IC50 was 1.1 μM. In addition, the combined treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 protein in MCF7 cells and increased p53 and p21 protein levels. Conclusion: The combination of pitavastatin and vitamin D showed a synergistic cytotoxic effect by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
