Antidepressant Sertraline Hydrochloride Inhibits the Growth of HER2+ AU565Breast Cancer Cell Line through Induction of Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest
Sharmeen Fayyaz, Atia‐tul Wahab, Atia-Tul-Wahab, Rimsha Irshad, Rafat A. Siddiqui, M. Iqbal Choudhary
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Drug repurposing in oncology promises benefits to many patients through its ability to provide novel, and fast-tracked treatments. Previous studies have demonstrated that depression may influence tumor progression. Anti-proliferative activity of certain antidepressants, mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to repurpose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for the treatment of breast cancers, and it merits further validation and research. METHODS: Changes in cell morphology were studied using DAPI staining, while the Annexin V/PI method was employed for apoptotic analysis. The expression of specific genes involved in cancer progression was also analyzed via RT-PCR. Caspase-3 activation was measured through fluorometric assay. RESULTS: . Preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of sertraline hydrochloride was possibly through the induction of apoptosis, as inferred from enhanced nuclear fragmentation, flow cytometric data, and caspase-3/7 activation. Gene expression analysis also showed an increased expression of pro-apoptotic Bax, and a slight decrease in oncogene c-myc in the presence of sertraline hydrochloride. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study suggest that sertraline hydrochloride, an antidepressant drug, can potentially be used for the treatment of breast cancer.