Breast cancer metastasizes to bone, significantly complicating treatment options and adversely affecting patient survival rates. A recent study using a 3D in vitro nano clay-based scaffold model has explored the potential of the Tibetan plant extract, Rhodiola crenulata, as a therapeutic agent against bone metastatic breast cancer cells. The study found that R. crenulata effectively induced apoptosis in bone metastasized breast cancer cells by upregulating pro-apoptotic proteins such as p53 and caspase-9 while leaving healthy bone cells unaffected.
According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer accounts for roughly 2.26 million new cases annually worldwide, translating into significant mortality due to metastasis, particularly affecting the bone. The study notes that nearly 70% of patients with bone metastasis from breast cancer may succumb to related complications within five years. With current treatment options primarily relying on chemotherapy and surgeries that often fail as the disease progresses, there is an urgent need for innovative therapeutics.
The research involved testing R. crenulata's cytotoxicity on breast cancer cells cultured in both 3D and traditional 2D settings. Employing a 3D scaffold allows for a more accurate representation of human biology, fostering better cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions. This model showed that R. crenulata demonstrates a robust anticancer effect, with IC50 values indicating effective cytotoxicity at higher concentrations in 3D cultures compared to those in 2D cultures.
Specifically, brain metastatic MCF-7 and MM-231 breast cancer cells needed concentrations of 316.2 ppm and 524.7 ppm of R. crenulata extract respectively to reduce proliferation by 50% in the 3D model. In contrast, 2D cultures required significantly lower concentrations for the same effect. The study's results illustrate the resistance developed by breast cancer cells in the more complex 3D environment.
The study also revealed a significant induction of apoptosis—an essential process for eliminating cancer cells—where the R. crenulata treatment resulted in higher apoptosis rates in 2D compared to 3D cultures. This disparity signals the complex interplay at work within the scaffold-based cultures. The research presented evidence of enhanced caspase-9 activity in treated breast cancer cells and offered insight into the differential responses from the breast cancer lines observed.
Interestingly, healthy hMSCs showed increased proliferation when treated with R. crenulata at 400 and 800 ppm concentrations, suggesting that this plant extract does not adversely affect bone cells. This characteristic sets R. crenulata apart as a potential candidate for therapeutic strategies, addressing the dire need for effective and safer treatments for patients with bone metastasized breast cancer.
The authors of the article emphasized that their findings open new avenues in cancer therapeutics, particularly for advanced stages of breast cancer, where survival rates remain alarmingly low. With innovative, non-toxic treatment candidates like R. crenulata emerging from this research, the hope for better patient outcomes in difficult-to-treat metastasized conditions continues to grow.
This pioneering study underscores the transformative potential of in vitro drug screening models, portraying their role not only in understanding disease mechanisms but also in advancing therapeutic developments that could significantly impact patient care.
