Premium
Boric and phenyl boric acids induce apoptosis in both prostate cancer and breast cancer cell lines
Author(s) -
Meacham Susan L,
Hall Casey,
Shen Shirley,
Carper Stephen W
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a124-c
Subject(s) - boric acid , apoptosis , prostate cancer , boron , cancer cell , cancer , chemistry , cell culture , cancer research , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , biology , genetics , organic chemistry
Boron is an essential nutrient for higher plants but its role in animals is unknown. Studies have reported that boron had beneficial effects on embryogenesis in fish and rats and mineral metabolism in chickens. In a typical adult human diet, daily intakes of boron were reported to be approximately 1 – 2 mg/day. The major form of boron in humans is boric acid, a weak acid (pKa =9.2), mostly unionized at physiological pH. Recent reports have indicated that boric acid is able to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cell lines and tumors. Our studies confirm growth inhibition of the DU‐145 and PC‐3 human prostate cancer cells lines. In addition, we have observed that boric acid is also capable of inhibiting the growth of two human breast cancer cell lines ZR‐75‐1 and SK‐BR‐3 but not MDA‐MB‐231, MDA‐MB‐435, T‐47D or MCF‐7 breast cancer cell lines. In addition to growth inhibition it was observed that boric acid and phenyl boric acid were able to cause both the breast and prostate cancer cells to detach and undergo apoptosis. Flow cytometery indicated that the floating cells were undergoing apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. A caspase 3 assay further confirmed apoptosis. Both boric acid and phenyl boric acid were able to inhibit the attachment of DU‐145 in the absence or presence of MnCl2. Cell attachment is controlled by the integrin proteins hence, our working hypothesis is that boric and phenyl boric acids are binding to the integrin proteins, causing the cells to detach and undergo apoptosis.