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European Journal of Nutrition
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition 2/2015

01-03-2015 | Original Contribution

Autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine potentiates apoptosis induced by dietary tocotrienols in breast cancer cells

Authors: Anh Thu Tran, Malathi Ramalinga, Habib Kedir, Robert Clarke, Deepak Kumar

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 2/2015

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Abstract

Introduction

Tocomin® represents commercially available mixture of naturally occurring tocotrienols (T3s) and tocopherols extracted from palm oil/palm fruits that possess powerful antioxidant, anticancer, neuro/cardioprotective and cholesterol-lowering properties. Cellular autophagy represents a defense mechanism against oxidative stress and several anticancer compounds. Recently, we reported that T3s induce apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in breast cancer cells.

Methodology

We studied the effects of Tocomin® on MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells and non-tumor MCF-10A cells.

Results

Tocomin® inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cell lines without affecting the viability of MCF-10A cells. We also showed that Tocomin® negatively modulates phosphoinositide 3-kinase and mTOR pathways and induces cytoprotective autophagic response in triple negative MDA-MB 231 cells. Lastly, we demonstrate that autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) potentiated the apoptosis induced by Tocomin® in MDA-MB 231 cells.

Conclusion

Together, our data indicate anticancer effects of Tocomin® in breast cancer cells, which is potentiated by the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA.
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Metadata
Title
Autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine potentiates apoptosis induced by dietary tocotrienols in breast cancer cells
Authors
Anh Thu Tran
Malathi Ramalinga
Habib Kedir
Robert Clarke
Deepak Kumar
Publication date
01-03-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 2/2015
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0707-y

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