Abstract
Several studies relate Mediterranean diet and virgin olive oil (VOO) intake with lower risk of several chronic diseases, including breast cancer. Many of them described antitumor properties of isolated minor compounds present in VOO, but beneficial properties of VOO arise from the effects of all its compounds acting together. The aim of the present study was to test the antitumor effects of two minor compounds from VOO (hydroxytyrosol (HT) and squalene (SQ)) on highly metastatic human breast tumor cells (MDA-MB-231) when acting in combination. Both isolated compounds were previously analyzed without showing any antitumoral effect on highly invasive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, but the present results show that HT at 100 µM, combined with different concentrations of SQ, could exert antitumor effects. When they are combined, HT and SQ are able to inhibit cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis and DNA damage in metastatic breast cancer cells. Therefore, our results suggest that the health-promoting properties of VOO may be due, at least in part, to the combined action of these two minor compounds.
Highlights
Among all types of cancer, breast cancer is one of the most common causes of mortality among women in developed countries [1]
We found that HT and SQ, both minor compounds present in virgin olive oil (VOO), have antitumor effects on highly invasive breast cancer cells only when they act in combination, but not when they act independently
Our results showed that the combination of both HT and SQ did not reduce basal reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in MDA-MB-231 cells; when H2 O2 was added, HT at 100 μM combined with SQ
Summary
Among all types of cancer, breast cancer is one of the most common causes of mortality among women in developed countries [1]. Many environmental factors, such as diet, can affect breast cancer development [2]. In this context, the Mediterranean diet pattern is associated with low incidence of breast cancer [3]. The Mediterranean diet pattern is associated with low incidence of breast cancer [3] Several authors associate these health effects with virgin olive oil (VOO), the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet [4,5]. Polyphenols were found to be related to the prevention of diabetes, neurological and cardiovascular diseases, and cancer [8]
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