Insights into the Behavior of Triple-Negative MDA-MB-231 Breast Carcinoma Cells Following the Treatment with 17β-Ethinylestradiol and Levonorgestrel

Autor: Sebastian Simu, Iasmina Marcovici, Amadeus Dobrescu, Daniel Malita, Cristina Adriana Dehelean, Dorina Coricovac, Flavius Olaru, George Andrei Draghici, Dan Navolan
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Molecules, Vol 26, Iss 9, p 2776 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1420-3049
49756893
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092776
Popis: Oral contraceptives (OCs) are widely used due to their efficiency in preventing unplanned pregnancies and treating several human illnesses. Despite their medical value, the toxicity of OCs remains a public concern. Previous studies indicate the carcinogenic potential of synthetic sex hormones and their link to the development and progression of hormone-dependent malignancies such as breast cancer. However, little is known about their influence on the evolution of triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC), a malignancy defined by the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. This study reveals that the active ingredients of modern OCs, 17β-Ethinylestradiol, Levonorgestrel, and their combination induce differential effects in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells. The most relevant behavioral changes occurred after the 24 h treatment with 17β-Ethinylestradiol, summarized as follows: (i) decreased cell viability (64.32% at 10 µM); (ii) cell roundness and loss of confluence; (iii) apoptotic aspect of cell nuclei (fragmentation, membrane blebbing); and (iv) inhibited cell migration, suggesting a potential anticancer effect. Conversely, Levonorgestrel was generally associated with a proliferative activity. The association of the two OCs exerted similar effects as 17β-Ethinylestradiol but was less effective. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the hormones’ cytotoxic mechanism of action on TNBC cells.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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