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Paclitaxel‐induced apoptosis in MCF‐7 breast‐cancer cells
Author(s) -
Saunders Dwight E.,
Lawrence W. Dwayne,
Christensen Carl,
Wappler Nanci L.,
Ruan Hangming,
Deppe Gunter
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19970117)70:2<214::aid-ijc13>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - apoptosis , paclitaxel , mcf 7 , caffeine , population , breast cancer , cancer cell , cancer research , programmed cell death , biology , cancer , medicine , endocrinology , human breast , biochemistry , environmental health
A study of MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells was undertaken to ascertain the degree of apoptosis induction by paclitaxel and if the induction of apoptosis could be enhanced by caffeine. Paclitaxel (0–20 ng/ml) caused concentration‐dependent increases in morphologically identifiable apoptotic cells (up to 43% of cell population) and cells with DNA strand breaks (up to 38%), a commonly cited marker of apoptosis. Maximal DNA strand breakage occurred after 16 hr of exposure to paclitaxel and maximal apoptotic‐appearing cells occurred after 24 hr. The remaining non‐apoptotic paclitaxel‐exposed cells were growth arrested in G 2 . A 4‐hr exposure to caffeine concentration‐dependently (0–20 mM) increased apoptosis to 88% of the cell population. Our results show induction of apoptosis in breast cancer cells by paclitaxel, and enhancement of this process by caffeine. Int. J. Cancer, 70:214–220, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss Inc.