[AKBA combined with doxorubicin inhibits proliferation and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and xenograft growth in nude mice].

Objectives: To investigate the synergistic inhibitory effects of AKBA and doxorubicin on malignant phenotype of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 cells.

Methods: CCK-8 assay was used to determine the 48-h IC of AKBA and doxorubicin in MDA-MB-231 cells, and SynergyFinder was employed to calculate the synergistic index and the optimal concentrations of the two agents. MDA-MB-231 cells treated with AKBA (22.5 μmol/L), doxorubicin (0.84 μmol/L) or their combination were examined for changes in cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis using Transwell migration, scratch assay, clone generation, RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify the downstream targets of AKBA in TNBC. In nude mouse models bearing subcutaneous MDA-MB-231 cell xenografts, the effects of normal saline, AKBA (50 mg/kg), doxorubicin (2.5 mg/kg), and AKBA combined with doxorubicin on xenograft growth and histopathology were observed.

Results: The IC of AKBA and doxorubicin in MDA-MB-231 cells at 48 h was 45.15±0.97 μmol/L and 0.42±0.99 μmol/L, respectively. SynergyFinder confirmed the synergistic effect of AKBA and ADR with a ZIP>10. The combined treatment with AKBA and doxorubicin significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion, promoted apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells, and effectively suppressed xenograft growth in nude mice. Network pharmacology analysis predicted that AKBA affects the progression of TNBC through its downstream target AKBA.

Conclusions: AKBA combined with doxorubicin inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion, promotes apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells and suppresses MDA-MB-231 cell xenograft growth in nude mice. The combined use of AKBA can attenuate the toxic effects of doxorubicin in nude mice.