Abstract 5877: Antitumor activity of the mesoionic compound MI H 2.4 on breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Luciana Amaral de Mascena Costa, Filipe Cássio Silva de Lima, Rodrigo da Silva Viana, Silvany de Sousa Araujo, Aurea Wischral, Helivaldo Diógenes da Silva Souza, Petrônio Filgueiras de Athayde-Filhoa, Leandro Araújo de Azevedo, Severino Alves Júnior, Manoel Adrião, J. Michael Mathis
Journal: Cancer Research (2018)

Abstract Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 60. Localized breast cancer is easily treated, resulting in high survival rates. However, treatment for advanced disease is inadequate, with a five-year survival rate of less than 24%. Thus, there is a great need for new therapies capable of increasing therapeutic efficacy. Synthetic mesoionic compounds, belonging to the 1,3-thiazolium-5-thiolate group, are recognized for their broad spectrum of biological activities including antibiotic, antiparasitic, antiviral, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and more recently for their potential antitumor activity. These compounds have the ability to cross cell membranes; the characteristic of mesoionic structures having distinct regions of positive and negative charge associated with a poly-heterocyclic aromatic ring system, indicates the capability of strong interactions with biomolecules such as DNA and proteins. In this study, the cytotoxic effects of mesoionic compound MI H 2.4 alone and in combination with zinc was examined in breast cancer cell lines (4TI, BT-20, BT-549, MCF7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-436, MM2MT, T-47D, and ZR-75-1) and normal breast cell lineages (HuMEC, MCF-10A, and MCF-12A) were evaluated. The effect of this agent on cell cycle was also investigated. Different concentrations of mesoionic compound MI H 2.4 (MI H 2.4 free) and in combination with zinc (MI H 2.4 Zinc) were added to the cultured cells and incubated for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Cell survival and cytotoxicity were evaluated using crystal violet and MTT assays. Cell cycle analysis was performed using MCF7 cells that were stained with propidium iodide and analyzed by flow cytometry. The cytotoxic effects of mesoionic compounds (MI H 2.4 free and MI H 2.4 Zinc) were highest at72 and 96 h. The MI H 2.4 free and MI H 2.4 Zinc showed a similar inhibitory effect on breast cancer cell growth in the μM range. In contrast, the normal breast cell lineages showed low cytotoxicity to treatment with the mesoionic compounds. Treatment of MCF7 cells cultured with MI H 2.4 free blocked cell cycle progression at the G2 phase of the cell cycle after 24 h of treatment. Mitochondrial function of MCF7 cells was determined using a Seahorse XF-24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. Treatment with MI H 2.4 free and MI H 2.4 Zinc for 24 h resulted in a decreased basal and maximal mitochondrial respiration. In summary, mesoionic compound MI H 2.4 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of breast cancer, considering that it has significant antitumoral activity in breast cancer cell lines and low cytotoxicity in normal cells. Citation Format: Luciana Amaral de Mascena Costa, Filipe Cássio Silva de Lima, Rodrigo da Silva Viana, Silvany de Sousa Araujo, Aurea Wischral, Helivaldo Diógenes da Silva Souza, Petrônio Filgueiras de Athayde-Filhoa, Leandro Araújo de Azevedo, Severino Alves Júnior, Manoel Adrião, J. Michael Mathis. Antitumor activity of the mesoionic compound MI H 2.4 on breast cancer cell lines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5877.