In vivo inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein-2 on breast cancer cell growth

In vitro and in vivo study.

To evaluate the role of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP2) on breast cancer cell (MDA-MB-231 cells) growth.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are expressed in a variety of human carcinoma cell lines and are known to promote tumor invasion and metastasis. However, their roles in tumor progression have not been fully clarified. In addition, there is no in vivo study regarding the inhibitory effect of BMP2 on breast cancer cell proliferation.

Cell proliferation was determined by BrdU incorporation assay and flow cytometry. BMP2 signal transduction pathways were estimated on Western blot. Fifteen animals were divided into 2 groups; 1 (control = 5) was breast cancer cells alone, while the other (experiment = 5) was rhBMP2 + breast cancer cells. Cancer cells were injected into 2 sites (subcutaneous and femur) of nude mice with or without BMP2. Tumor size was determined by direct measurements for subcutaneous tumor formation and by femur radiographs. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed.

RhBMP2 inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro. Inhibition was associated with changes in both the Smad and Wnt signaling pathways and was ultimately mediated through effects on various cell cycle proteins. Furthermore, rhBMP2 inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells injected both subcutaneously and intrafemorally.

In this model using human breast adenocarcinoma cell line, rhBMP2 has no stimulatory effect of tumor growth. Therefore, we can provide the basic science data to support the utilization in the management of patients with spine tumor in the future.