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Differential effects of chemotherapeutic agents on the Bcl‐2/Bax apoptosis pathway in human breast cancer cell line MCF‐7

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Abstract

The present study explored the effects of three commonly used chemotherapeutic agents on the Bcl‐2/Bax apoptosis pathway and the interaction of these chemotherapeutic drugs with the estradiol‐mediated regulation of this pathway. Our results showed that: (1) Treatment of MCF‐7 cells with Adriamycin resulted in time‐ and concentration‐dependent decreases in Bcl‐2 and increases in Bax mRNA and protein levels. (2) Camptothecin elicited similar trends on Bcl‐2 and Bax as Adriamycin, while etoposide, at 50–100 fold (1–5 μM) the effective concentration of Adriamycin and camptothecin, only resulted in an increase in Bax mRNA levels. (3) Adriamycin and camptothecin, but not etoposide, were effective in suppressing estradiol‐stimulated increases in Bcl‐2 mRNA levels. Our study provides evidence that the Bcl‐2/Bax apoptosis pathway may be differentially regulated by chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, interaction between these agents and estradiol on the Bcl‐2/Bax apoptosis pathway may also exist.

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  1. Basic Research Laboratory, NCI‐Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA

    Lai K. Leung & Thomas T.Y. Wang

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  1. Lai K. Leung
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  2. Thomas T.Y. Wang
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Leung, L.K., Wang, T.T. Differential effects of chemotherapeutic agents on the Bcl‐2/Bax apoptosis pathway in human breast cancer cell line MCF‐7. Breast Cancer Res Treat 55, 73–83 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006190802590

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