Impact Of Berberine On Growth, Invasion And Radiosensitivity Of Breast Cancer Cells

Objective : To study the imapcts of berberine on growth, invasion and radiosensitivity in human breast cancer cells.Methods:(1) MTT assay was used to evaluate cell growth; (2) In vitro scratch migration assay was used to determine cell migration; (3) Annexin V assay was used to detect cell apoptosis; (4) Distribution of cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry assay; (5) Colony formation assay was emplyed to detect the influence of berberine on cell radiosensitivity; (6) Western blot assay was employd to measure protein expression.Results:Berberine inhibited cell growth and migration in two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, in a dose- and time-denependent manner. Furthermore, berberine resulted in a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and triggered apoptosis. Berberine caused a dose-dependent increase of bax and caspase-3 protein expression, while the expression of cyclin D1 cyclin B1 and Bcl-2 protein was suppressed. Additionally, a disapperance of shoulder of cell survival curves after irradiation was observed in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines in the presence of berberine compared with the absence of berberine.Conclusion: The present findings have demonstrated that berberine inhibits growth and invasion of breast cancer cells via apoptosis induction and cycle cycle arrest. Moreover, berberine at lower doses repressed cell migration and increases cell sensitivity toχ-ray irradiation. These results provide evidence for further investigation of berberine as a new anti-cancer agent and radiosensitizer in therapy of breast cancer.