Microcurrent stimulation induces cell death in p53-mutant and 5-FU-resistant breast cancer

Abstract

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer. Its efficacy relies on the function of p53, and mutations in p53 contribute to the development of resistance during 5-FU chemotherapy. Here, we report that microcurrent stimulation (MCS) of a p53-mutant breast cancer cell line induces p53-mediated cell death. Although MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells, both human breast cancer cell lines, are less sensitive to 5-FU due to p53 mutations, MCS (300 μA for 30 min) induced apoptosis in these cells and improved the antitumor effect of 5-FU in tumor-bearing mice. MCS-induced apoptosis was mediated by an increase in intracellular Cu²⁺ ions and reactive oxygen species, along with the concurrent transcriptional enhancement of pro-apoptotic genes by p53. Furthermore, MCS induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells that had developed resistance to 5-FU and inhibited tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice with reduced 5-FU sensitivity. These findings suggest that an approach involving MCS could serve as a foundation for developing breast cancer treatment strategies to overcome p53 mutations.

Keywords: 5-fluorouracil; MDA-MB-231 cells; apoptosis; breast cancer; cell death; chemoresistance; flow cytometry; microcurrent; p53; reactive oxygen species (ROS).