Anticancer Effects of Nervonic Acid in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks targeted therapies, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
• Fatty acids exhibit complex roles in cancer, with potential for both inhibition and promotion.
• The anti-cancer effects of nervonic acid (NA), a monounsaturated fatty acid, remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the anti-cancer effects of nervonic acid (NA) on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
• To evaluate NA's impact on TNBC cell viability, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion.
• To assess NA's efficacy in reducing tumor growth and metastasis in a preclinical TNBC mouse model.

Main Methods:

• In vitro: BT-549 TNBC cells were treated with varying concentrations of NA.
• In vivo: Female athymic nude mice with BT-549 xenografts received NA treatment.
• Assays included cell viability, apoptosis markers (single-stranded DNA), proliferation marker (Ki-67), apoptosis inhibitor (NF-κB), cell migration/invasion assays, and tumor growth/metastasis monitoring.

Main Results:

• NA significantly reduced BT-549 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner.
• NA induced apoptosis, inhibited proliferation, and suppressed cell migration and invasion in vitro.
• NA treatment significantly decreased tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo.
• NA modulated key molecular markers including NF-κB, Ki-67, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and MMPs.

Conclusions:

• Nervonic acid demonstrates significant antitumor activity against triple-negative breast cancer.
• NA exhibits potential as a novel therapeutic agent for TNBC, warranting further clinical investigation.
• The findings support NA's role in inhibiting TNBC progression through apoptosis induction and anti-metastatic effects.