Short and Long-Term Effects of the Exposure of Breast Cancer Cell Lines to Different Ratios of Free or Co-Encapsulated Liposomal Paclitaxel and Doxorubicin

Abstract

Background: Associating paclitaxel (PTX) to doxorubicin (DXR) is one of the main chemotherapy strategies for breast cancer (BC) management. Protocols currently available consist in administering both drugs on their maximum tolerated dose, not taking into account the possible differences in efficacy due to their combination ratio. In the present study, the short and long-term cytotoxic effects as well as migratory effects of PTX, DXR, and its combinations at 10:1; 1:1 and 1:10 PTX:DXR molar ratios either free or co-encapsulated in liposomes were evaluated against three human BC cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and SKBR-3). Method: The MTT assay was used to screen for synergy or antagonism between PTX and DXR and the combination index value was calculated using the CalcuSyn software. Nuclear morphological alterations were evaluated by staining the cells with Hoescht 33342. The investigation of senescence and clonogenicity of BC cell lines exposed to different treatments was also studied. In addition, the ability of these cells to migrate was assessed. Results: Taken together, the results presented herein allow us to suggest that there is no benefit in enhancing the PTX concentration above that of DXR in the combination for any of the three cell lines tested. Conclusion: The developed liposomes co-encapsulating PTX and DXR in different molar ratios retained the biological properties of the mixture of free drugs and are valuable for planning new therapeutic strategies.

RETRACTED: Lipidic Nano-Sized Emulsomes Potentiates the Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects of Raloxifene Hydrochloride in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells: Factorial Analysis and In Vitro Anti-Tumor Activity Assessment

“…The effects of RLX-EMLs, RLX, and blank EMLs on MCF-7 cells viability were evaluated using MTT assay as previously described [ 32 , 33 ]. The cells were plated at a density of 5 × 10 3 cells per well in 96-well plate, and kept in the incubator overnight prior to exposition to the treatments with RLX-EMLs and RLX at different concentrations: 100, 25, 6.25, 1.56, and 0.39 µg/mL for 48 h. RLX was dissolved in 0.1% DMSO and this vehicle concentration showed negative cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells.…”

Pluchea indica tea-leaf extracts exert anti-cancer activity by inducing ROS-mediated cytotoxicity on breast and cervical cancer cells

“…In contrast to the MTT results, the clonogenic results revealed that the number of MDA-MB-231 colonies formed after extract treatment was not the lowest of the cell tested. This could be due to the surviving cells retaining a greater ability to proliferate, which is similar to a previous finding (Franco et al. , 2019).…”

“…In contrast to the MTT results, the clonogenic results revealed that the number of MDA-MB-231 colonies formed after extract treatment was not the lowest of the cell tested. This could be due to the surviving cells retaining a greater ability to proliferate, which is similar to a previous finding (Franco et al, 2019). In addition, Kim et al (2015) have previously demonstrated that cell density also affects the growth rate of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells by modulating gene expression.…”

Exploration of Benzenesulfonamide-Bearing Imidazole Derivatives Activity in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Melanoma 2D and 3D Cell Cultures

“…Many studies have been done on MDA-MB-231 cell colony formation in the presence of drugs used for triple-negative breast cancer treatment, novel compounds, or their combinations. Franco et al [41] established that MDA-MB-231 cell colony formation is reduced more efficiently by 70 nM of doxorubicin compared to 70 nM of paclitaxel. Alkaloid aloperine derived from plants could inhibit MDA-MB-231 cell colony formation number up to ~40% compared to the control; however, at rather high concentration of 400 µM [42].…”