Ellagic Acid Shows Different Anti-proliferative Effects Between the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Purpose: It has been demonstrated ellagic acid can inhibit tumor growth. However, the mechanism that elicits the antiproliferative effect of ellagic acid is poorly understood. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the biological activity of ellagic acid by comparing the anti-proliferative effect and the apoptotic pathway of ellagic acid between the 2 human breast cancer cell lines. Methods: The MCF-7 and MDAMB-231 human breast cancer cell lines were used as cell models. The anti-proliferstive effect was evaluated by using a MTT assay. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blotting was performed to show the expressions of bcl-xL, cytochrome c, surviving, c-fos and pS2. Results: The ellagic acid in the MDA-MB-231 cells showed significant antiproliferative effects with dose dependent pattern. The antiproliferative effects in MCF-7 cells were observed in only at a high concentration. Ellagic acid had no effect on the cell cycle in both breast cancer cells. In MDA-MB-231, the expression of bcl-xL was decreased with the decreasing concentration of ellagic acid. The expression of cytochrome c in the cytosol was increased with the decreased expression of bcl-xL. Ellagic acid also decreased the expression of survivin. In the MCF-7 cells, the expressions of bcl-xL and cytochrome c showed no change after treatment with ellagic acid even at a high dose. Ellagic acid was able to induce an upregulation of c-fos and pS2 protein in MCF-7. Conclusion: Ellagic acid has an anti-proliferative effect in the MDA-MB231 cells. This effect of ellagic acid is through the intrinsic pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells. However, the expression of bcl-xL showed no change in the MCF-7 cells. Ellagic acid has a different anti-proliferative effect between the two human breast cancer cell lines.