Biochanin A Modulates Cell Viability, Invasion, and Growth Promoting Signaling Pathways in HER-2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract EN

Overexpression of HER-2 receptor is associated with poor prognosis and aggressive forms of breast cancer.

Scientific literature indicates a preventive role of isoflavones in cancer.

Since activation of HER-2 receptor initiates growth-promoting events in cancer cells, we studied the effect of biochanin A (an isoflavone) on associated signaling events like receptor activation, downstream signaling, and invasive pathways.

HER-2-positive SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells, MCF-10A normal breast epithelial cells, and NIH-3T3 normal fibroblast cells were treated with biochanin A (2–100 μM) for 72 hours.

Subsequently cell viability assay, western blotting and zymography were carried out.

The data indicate that biochanin A inhibits cell viability, signaling pathways, and invasive enzyme expression and activity in SK-BR-3 cancer cells.

Biochanin A did not inhibit MCF-10A and NIH-3T3 cell viability.

Therefore, biochanin A could be a unique natural anticancer agent which can selectively target cancer cells and inhibit multiple signaling pathways in HER-2-positive breast cancer cells.