Effect of Norcantharidin on the Human Breast Cancer Bcap-37 Cells

Abstract

Norcantharidin (NCTD), a chemically modified form of cantharidin, is a potential anticancer drug. In this study, the effects of NCTD on the cellular viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and DNA damage in the human breast cancer cell line Bcap-37 were investigated with confocal and fluorescence microscopy. The cell cycle was further analyzed using the CellQuest software of a Becton-Dickinson FACS flow cytometer. The results indicated that the cellular viability was decreased with the growing concentrations of NCTD and time exposure. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity of ROS was increased, whereas the MMP was decreased in Bcap-37 cells with the growing concentrations of NCTD. NCTD induced a dose-dependent DNA damage and reduced the G1 peak in Bcap-37 cells. The G2/M peak of Bcap-37 was also decreased by the higher concentration of NCTD.

• norcantharidin
• reactive oxygen species
• mitochondrial membrane potential
• DNA damage
• cell cycle

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Foundation for technological innovation of experimental instruments and equipment in Shandong Province, China (Grant No. 2008GG2TC01011-5).

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.