Amikacin Suppresses Human Breast Cancer Cell MDA-MB-231 Migration and Invasion

Yun-Hsin Wang1,2, Yau-Hung Chen2, Wen-Hao Shen1

  • 1Division of Basic Research, Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Taipei 112, Taiwan.

Toxics
|November 25, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Amikacin antibiotic inhibits migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). This effect is linked to increased thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) levels, a key regulator of cell movement.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic crucial for treating gram-negative bacterial infections, particularly in immunocompromised cancer patients.
  • Human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) are aggressive and prone to metastasis, making them a relevant model for studying anti-migratory agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of amikacin on the migration and invasion capabilities of human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying amikacin's impact on cancer cell motility, focusing on the role of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP).

Main Methods:

  • Utilized wound-healing and trans-well assays to quantify MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion rates.
  • Employed Western blotting and immunostaining to analyze protein expression changes, specifically TXNIP and pseudopodia formation.
  • Conducted siRNA knockdown experiments to assess the functional significance of TXNIP in amikacin-treated cells.

Main Results:

  • Amikacin treatment significantly reduced MDA-MB-231 cell migration by 44.4% and inhibited cell invasion.
  • Western blotting revealed that amikacin up-regulates the expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP).
  • Knockdown of TXNIP using siRNA promoted pseudopodia extension, while amikacin treatment attenuated this effect, indicating TXNIP's role in mediating amikacin's anti-migratory action.

Conclusions:

  • Amikacin effectively inhibits migration and invasion in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
  • The observed anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects of amikacin are likely mediated through the up-regulation of TXNIP.
  • These findings suggest a potential therapeutic role for amikacin beyond its antibacterial activity in managing breast cancer metastasis.