Basic & Clinical Medicine ›› 2015, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (3): 336-340.

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Calpeptin inhibits the proliferation of ER negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells induced by EGF

  

  • Received:2014-03-31 Revised:2014-11-26 Online:2015-03-05 Published:2015-03-03
  • Contact: zhu zhu-xia zhu-xiaZHU E-mail:zhuxia@gmc.edu.cn

Abstract: Objective To investigate whether calpain is involved in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-enhanced colony formation in estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer cells. Methods ER-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were employed as a model system, Western lot analysis was used to observe protein alterations. Colony formation assay applied to evaluate the role of calpain in EGF-stimulated cell growth. Calpain specific inhibitor, calpeptin (Calp), was employed for pre-treatment of cells to observe its effect on the EGF actions. Results (1) EGF induced over-expression and truncation of FAK (also of cyclin E) protein in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells(p<0.01); (2) EGF-enhanced processing of FAK could be blocked by calpeptin(p<0.05); (3) EGF induced calpain 1 autolysis and this effect could be tremendously suppressed by pre-treatment with calpeptin(p<0.05), and (4) Calpeptin greatly inhibited EGF-enhanced cell growth(p<0.05). Conclusion Calpain is possibly a potential target for the treatment of ER-negative breast cancer.

Key words: Key words: Epidermal growth factor, Calpain, estrogen receptor, cell growth, Breast cancer

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