Cytotoxic effect of Ad-ephrinA1-caspase-3-T on breast cancer cells in vitro

Background: Research whether the Ad-ephrinA1-caspase-3-T has a targeted cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells in vitro.

Methods: First, the breast cancer cells were isolated, cultured and identified. The Ad-ephrinA1-caspase-3-T was used to infect human breast cells, and detect the effect that Ad-ephrinA1-caspase-3-T made on the viability of breast cancer cells with EphA2 positive by MTT. The effect of Ad-ephrinA1-caspase-3-T on the apoptosis of breast cancer cells was detected by flow cytometer. Finally, the specific cytotoxic effect of Ad-ephrinA1-caspase-3-T on target cells was examined by antibody neutralization experiments.

Results: Breast cancer cells showed adherent growth, and high levels of EphA2 receptor and ephrinA1 expression were seen in breast cancer cells. Ad-ephrinA1-caspase-3-T showed a strong cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells, and the growth inhibition rate was 42.3%. After culture for 72 h, the apoptosis rates corresponding to the dilution ratios of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 were 36%, 24%, 18%, 8%, and 7%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control group, whose apoptosis rate was 3.5%. Neutralizing antibody could effectively reduce the cytotoxic effect of Ad-ephrinA1-caspase-3-T on EphA2 positive breast cancer cells.

Conclusions: The Ad-ephrinA1-caspase-3-T has a targeted cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells in vitro.