Inhibitory effects of Xi-Huang Pellet on the proliferation of human breast cancer SKBR3 cells

Abstract

Highlights：Xi-Huang pellet inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer SKBR3 cells via a significantly change of cyclins expression and p21WAF1/CIP1 pathway. 5-FU significantly enhanced the inhibitory effects of Xi-Huang pellet.

Editor’s Summary：Xi-Huang pellet combined with 5-FU significantly inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer SKBR3 cells. This provides laboratory basis for 5-FU to cooperate with Xi-Huang pellet for breast cancer.

Background: To observe the anti-proliferative effects and molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions Xi-Huang pellet (XHP) on human breast cancer cell line SKBR3. Materials and Methods: Human breast cancer cell line SKBR3 was cultured. Trypan blue exclusion assay was used to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of medicine. The rates of the cell cycle were measured by flow cytometry (FCM). The impacts of medicine on the protein expression were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RNA extraction and real-time PCR were used to observe the change of RNA expression. Results: Myrrh, XHP and XHP combined 5-FU could inhibit cell proliferation and arrest SKBR3 cells at S phases. XHP combined 5-FU resulted in a significant increase of intracellular p21WAF1/CiP1 content in SKBR3 cells. XHP and XHP combined 5-FU led to a decrease of mRNA expression on cyclin A2, cyclin D1 and cyclin E in SKBR3 cells. Conclusions: XHP inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer SKBR3 cells via a significantly change of cyclins expression and p21WAF1/CIP1 pathway. 5-FU significantly enhanced the inhibitory effects of XHP on SKBR3 cells.