Preclinical investigations validate anticancer effects of alkyl-phospholipid perifosine against breast cancer cells

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. It arises from the uncontrolled growth of cells in the breast tissue, most often in the ducts or lobules. Major risk factors include genetic predisposition, hormonal influences, increasing age, and lifestyle factors. Early detection through screening methods such as mammography significantly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates. Despite advances in diagnosis and therapy, breast cancer remains a major public health challenge globally.

Methods: Breast cancer cells MCF-7 were cultured and treated with perifosine for further experiments. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay. Nuclear morphology and apoptosis were assessed by DAPI staining. Cell migration was examined using scratch wound-healing assay. Gene expression analysis of selected genes was performed using real-time PCR. Data sets were compared between treated and untreated control groups.

Results: Perifosine treatment significantly reduced cancer cell viability in a dose-dependent manner as determined by the MTT assay. DAPI staining revealed prominent apoptotic features including nuclear condensation and fragmentation in treated cells compared to untreated controls. The scratch assay demonstrated a marked inhibition of cell migration, indicating reduced metastatic potential following perifosine exposure. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis showed altered expressions of apoptosis (Caspases, BAX, BCL2), proliferation (cyclins and cell cycle inhibiters), stress (GADD genes) and transcription factors (E2F) supportive pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of perifosine.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that perifosine exhibits significant anticancer activity in vitro and require further investigations to explore clinical relevance.