Objective: Over expression of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) have major role in many cancers. In this study, role of angiotensin II (Ag II) and NF-kappaB pathway in breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) proliferation were studied using olmesartan (as a novel Ag II antagonist) and Bay11-7082 (as NF-kappaB inhibitor).
Materials and methods: Cells were treated with different concentrations of olmesartan and Bay11-7082.Cell proliferation was determined by 4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl, 2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Apoptotic cells were evaluated using PI staining of DNA fragmentation.
Results: Olmesartan and Bay11-7082 decreased cell viability. Combination of olmesartan with Bay11-7082 also decreased cell viability as compared with single agent treatments. Results showed that apoptosis is involved in olmesartan and Bay11-7082-induced toxicity.
Conclusion: Olmesartan and Bay11-7082 inhibit the MCF-7 cells growth indicating RAS and NF-kappaB pathway blockade lead to cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction against tumour cells. So ARBs and NF-kappaB pathway inhibitors could be considered as anticancer drugs in future.
Keywords: Bay11-7082; Cytotoxicity; MCF-7; Olmesartan.