Authors : Lin-Li Zhou , Judy Yuet-Wa Chan , Jun Wang and Kwok-Pui Fung
Abstract: Arsenic Trioxide (As2O3) has been explored for its use as medicine in both Western and Chinese societies. In 1990s, As2O3 was reported to treat patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Until recently, research on other solid tumour cells was emerged. In the present study, the mechanism of As2O3 treatment of human breast tumour MDA-MB-231 cells was investigated. It was found that As2O3 inhibited the cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic study indicated that the inhibition was induced via cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. As2O3 induced apoptosis via both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways by regulating the pro- or anti-apoptotic molecules. Moreover, As2O3-induced cell cycle arrested at G2 phase in MDA-MB-231 cells. The study revealed that As2O3 was a potent candidate for further investigation for combating against human breast tumour including the late stage breast tumour.
Lin-Li Zhou , Judy Yuet-Wa Chan , Jun Wang and Kwok-Pui Fung , 2008. Anti-Proliferation of MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Tumour Cells by Arsenic Trioxide via Induction of Apoptosis. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 2: 236-243.