Response of Mouse Breast Cancer Cells to Anastrozole, Tamoxifen, and the Combination.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2005

Abstract

The murine breast cancer cells (4T1) grown both in female BALB/c mice and in culture were treated with anastrozole (50 $\mu$ g/mL), tamoxifen citrate (5 $\mu$ g/mL), and the combination of the two drugs in order to determine treatment efficacies, toxic potential, and the mechanism of cell death. The in vivo treatments were evaluated by monitoring tumor growth, development, and life span. The in vitro effects were measured through cell growth kinetics, cell proliferation, mitochondrial membrane potential disruption assay, and light and scanning electron microscopy. All drug treatments extended the mean life span of the 4T1-inoculated tumor-bearing mice; however, only tamoxifen and combination treatments statistically increased the life span when compared to untreated mice. Although the most drug inhibitory effect on cell multiplication was observed in the combination treatment, both anastrozole and tamoxifen individually inhibited cell proliferation significantly at most time periods in this mouse breast cancer cell line. The mitochondrial membrane potential disruption assay demonstrated significant increase in the percent of cells undergoing apoptosis in all treatment groups. However, the combination treatment was the most effective in inducing cell death via apoptosis. Light and scanning electron microscopy of the treated cells revealed characteristics such as rounding, clumping, and shrinkage of the cells as well as formation of cell surface blebbing and apoptotic bodies suggestive of cell death via apoptotic pathway.

Volume

2005

Issue

1

First Page

10

Last Page

19

ISSN

1110-7251

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

15689634

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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