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Elevated survivin mediated multidrug resistance and reduced apoptosis in breast cancer stem cells

Chan-Juan Yu1, Jiang-Hua Ou, Ming-Long Wang

  • 1Department of Anesthesia, Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830011, China.

Journal of B.U.ON. : Official Journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology
|November 6, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Prodigiosin effectively targets survivin in breast cancer stem cells, inducing apoptosis and overcoming drug resistance. This highlights survivin

Area of Science:

  • Cancer Biology
  • Molecular Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Survivin overexpression in breast cancer drives uncontrolled cell proliferation by inhibiting apoptosis.
  • Breast cancer stem-like side population (SP) cells exhibit enhanced survival mechanisms.
  • SP cells are implicated in multidrug resistance and therapeutic failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of survivin in breast cancer stem-like SP cells.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of prodigiosin in downregulating survivin and inducing apoptosis in these cells.
  • To assess the impact of prodigiosin on drug resistance and chemosensitivity of SP cells.

Main Methods:

  • Quantification of survivin expression levels in breast cancer SP cells.
  • Assessment of apoptosis rates, drug resistance, and colony formation post-prodigiosin treatment.
  • Analysis of stem cell marker expression (Oct-4, EpCAM, ABCG2) in SP cells.

Main Results:

  • Breast cancer samples showed approximately 2.7% SP cells with elevated stem cell marker expression.
  • SP cells overexpressed survivin, correlating with reduced apoptosis and increased multidrug resistance.
  • Prodigiosin treatment sensitized SP cells to apoptosis and conventional chemotherapeutic agents.

Conclusions:

  • Increased survivin expression in breast cancer SP cells is a key factor in apoptosis evasion and chemotherapy resistance.
  • Targeting survivin with agents like prodigiosin offers a potential strategy to enhance breast cancer treatment efficacy.
  • Prodigiosin demonstrates promise in overcoming drug resistance mediated by survivin in cancer stem cells.

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