Apoptosis-promoting effect of resveratrol combined with 5-FU on human breast cancer cell line MCF7

AIM: To investigate whether 5-FU in combination with resveratrol can accelerate the apoptosis of human breast cancer cell line MCF7 in vitro. METHODS: Four breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3 and Bcap-37) were incubated with different concentrations of resveratrol or/and 5-FU for 48 h, then cell survival rate was measured by MTT assay and cell morphological change was observed by phase contrast microscope. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry (Annexin V/PI staining) analysis and Hoechst33258 staining. RESULTS: Resveratrol could inhibit the growth of MCF7, MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3 and Bcap-37 to different extents. The IC_ 50 values of resveratrol in MCF7, MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3 and Bcap-37 cells were 65, 207, 139 and 213 μmol/L, respectively. The IC_ 50 value of 5-FU in MCF7 cells was 13 μmol/L. When 5-FU and 65 μmol/L resveratrol were combined, the IC_ 50 value of 5-FU in MCF7 cells was decreased to 9 μmol/L. Compared with the treatment with 13 μmol/L 5-FU or 65 μmol/L resveratrol alone, the percentage of Annexin V(+)/PI(-) MCF7 cells increased when these 2 drugs were used in combination. The number of apoptotic MCF7 cells calculated with flow cytometry was accordant with the result got with Hoechst33258 staining. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol interacts synergistically with 5-FU to induce the apoptosis of MCF7 cells, which suggests that resveratrol is a secondary chemotherapeutic medicine for treating breast cancer.