The Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Marine Sponge Stylissa carteri Induces Breast Cancer Cell Death via Upregulation of Mcl-1S: an In vitro Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the potency of the fraction of marine sponge Stylissa carteri in inducing cell death, inhibiting spheroid growth, and its impact on pro-apoptotic protein Mcl-1S in breast cancer cells. Methods: Stylissa carteri were collected from Pramuka Island followed by ethanol extraction and ethyl acetate fractionation. To evaluate the cytotoxic effect of fraction, the HCC-1954, MDA MB 231, and MCF-7 cells were treated with the fraction of Stylissa carteri and MTT assay was then performed. The effect on spheroid growth was evaluated in HCC-1954 cells. The combined effect of the ethyl acetate fraction and paclitaxel were analyzed using combination index (CI) and immunoblotting on the pro-apoptotic protein Mcl-1S. Furthermore, compounds in this fraction were identified using GC-MS. Results: Data showed that both the MDA MB 231 and HCC-1954 cells were interestingly more sensitive to the fraction as compared with MCF-7 cells. The IC 50 of the ethyl acetate fraction on HCC-1954, MDA MB 231 and MCF-7 were 4.1 µg/ml, 3.9 µg/ml, and 123.8 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, the fraction triggered spheroid destruction within 10 days. The CI of paclitaxel and ethyl acetate fraction of Stylissa carteri were less than 0.52. Moreover, this combination induced upregulation of the Mcl-1S protein. Furthermore, some fatty acid-based structures were predicted as the major compounds in this fraction. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of Stylissa carteri induces cell death and spheroid destruction in aggressive breast cancer cells. It has a synergistic cytotoxic effect with paclitaxel on MDA MB 231 cell death and upregulates Mcl-1S protein.

Cytotoxic and Anti-proliferative Effects of Ethanol Extract of Marine Sponge Stylissa carteri on Colon Cancer HCT-116 Cell Line

“…The cytotoxicity of Stylissa carteri extract against cancer cells has been studied in breast cancer cells (Bashari, et al, 2022;Dhillon, et al, 2007;Eder, et al, 1999). Previous study was performed on human monocytic leukemia cells (MONO-MAC-6), and the resulting alkaloids actively killed these cells (Morrow, 2015).…”

“…Previous study showed that the ethanol extract, the ethyl acetate fraction as well as the n-hexane fraction of Stylissa carteri induce cell death in various breast cancer cells including luminal, HER2+ as well as the triple negative cells. Moreover, they also cytotoxic in cervical cancer cells (Bashari, et al, 2022;Bashari et al, 2019;Dhillon, et al, 2007). However, there has been no specific research on the cytotoxic effects of Stylissa carteri on colon cancer.…”

Marine Sponge Aaptos suberitoides Extract Improves Antiproliferation and Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells without Cytotoxicity to Normal Cells In Vitro

“…extract suppresses colon cancer cell proliferation [11]. Ethyl acetate extract from the marine sponge Stylissa carteri was reported to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells [12]. Sponge-derived natural products such as hemimycalin C, D, E, and manzamine A show antiproliferation against colon cancer cells [13].…”