Development of the potential synthesized compound to cause triple negative breast cancer cell death through intrinsic apoptosis mechanism

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with poor clinical outcome, and currently no effective targeted therapies are available. Since cancer develops owing to deregulation of apoptosis, employing therapeutic strategies with ability to target the molecules involved in apoptosis induction, would provide a valid approach to hinder tumor progression. Hydrazide-hydrazones and oxamide molecules are the subject of intense studies due to their anticancer effects via apoptosis induction. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the mechanism of action of a synthesized compound (compound A) and understand if the cell death occurs through inducing the apoptosis. These properties were investigated using the, annexin/PI and Western blotting analyses, DAPI staining, and mitochondrial membrane potential probe. Compound A also impeded the tumor growth in a 4T1 syngeneic mouse model as evidenced by hematoxylin and eosin staining of the tumors. Apart from that, it significantly diminished the expression of pro-caspase-3, Ki67 and CD31 markers in the tumor sections. Conclusively, this study for the first time reports the anti-cancer efficacy of compound A in both in vitro and in vivo models, which may serve as a potent candidate in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment.