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Toxoplasma gondii destroys Her2/Neu-expressing mammary cancer cells in vitro using a continuous feed medium approach
Esra Atalay Şahar1, Mert Döşkaya2, Muhammet Karakavuk3
1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey. esra.atalay.sahar@gmail.com.
Introduction:
Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic protozoan and can be grown using several human cell lines. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Her2/Neu-expressing mammary cancer cell lines called TUBO can be grown in vitro. In recent years, protozoan parasites have become popular means of use in cancer therapy research. In this study, we analyzed whether T. gondii tachyzoites can destroy TUBO cells using a novel continuous feed medium approach.
Methodology:
Two sets of flasks (each containing four groups) containing TUBO cells were inoculated with T. gondii Ankara strain tachyzoites. First set containing 5×106 TUBO cells were inoculated with TUBO-tachyzoite ratios of 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1 and second set containing 1×106 TUBO cells were inoculated with TUBO-tachyzoite ratios of 10:1, 100:1, 1000:1, and 2000:1. Thereafter, culture supernatants were harvested at various days until TUBO cells were destroyed and tachyzoites were counted.
Results:
In the first and second sets of flasks, TUBO cells were destroyed between days 8 to 12 and 12 to 25, respectively. In addition, the amount of tachyzoites increased 7- 43 and 595 to 112500 times in the first and second set of flasks, respectively.
Conclusions:
These results show that T. gondii tachyzoites successfully destroy Her2/Neu-expressing mammary cancer cells using a continuous feed medium approach. Although this idea may be too premature for the moment, the approach defined herein may support future researchers investigating the relationship between cancer and parasites which can make important progress toward saving cancer patient lives.
Insights
Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites effectively destroyed Her2/Neu-expressing mammary cancer cells in vitro. This study explored using protozoan parasites like T. gondii for cancer therapy research.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Parasitology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic protozoan parasite.
- Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women.
- Protozoan parasites are increasingly investigated for cancer therapy applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in destroying Her2/Neu-expressing mammary cancer cells (TUBO cells).
- To evaluate a novel continuous feed medium approach for parasite-mediated cancer cell destruction.
Main Methods:
- TUBO cells were cultured and inoculated with T. gondii tachyzoites at various ratios.
- Two sets of experiments utilized different initial cell densities and parasite-to-cell ratios.
- Culture supernatants were monitored, and tachyzoite counts were performed until cell destruction.
Main Results:
- TUBO cells were destroyed within 8 to 25 days, depending on the experimental conditions.
- T. gondii tachyzoite populations increased significantly, by 7- to 112,500-fold.
- Parasite-induced destruction of mammary cancer cells was observed.
Conclusions:
- T. gondii tachyzoites can effectively destroy Her2/Neu-expressing mammary cancer cells using a continuous feed medium.
- This approach shows potential for future research in parasite-based cancer therapy.
- Further investigation may contribute to novel strategies for saving cancer patients' lives.
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