Document Type : Original Article(s)
Authors
- Amirhosein Kefayat 1
- Mohadeseh Yuosefzadeh 2
- Parvin Goli 2
- Alireza Babayi 3
- Abbas Rezaei 2
- Nafiseh Esmaeil 2
1 Department of Oncology, Cancer Prevention Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Department of Biology, Payame Noor Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Several studies have reported the anticancer effect of phycocyanin C, a natural extract isolated from the algae Arthrospira platensis. However, its therapeutic effects on the growth of breast cancer and its metastasis have not been determined yet.
Method: In this case-control study, we employed phycocyanin C for the treatment of 4T1 breast tumor as an applicable experimental animal model for human mammary cancer and metastasis. BALB/c mice were injected subcutaneously (s.c) into the 4th abdominal mammary fat pad with 1×106 4T1 cells. We randomly divided the mice into two groups; one group of mice were injected with PBS as the control, and the other group was intraperitoneally injected with phycocyanin C (80 mg/kg daily for 20 days). Tumor growth and metastasis were assessed in both groups.
Results: Phycocyanin C significantly inhibited 4T1 breast tumors growth (P<0.05). The mean tumors volumes at the control group were 2.73 times higher than those of the treatment group. In addition, phycocyanin C treatment could significantly inhibit the formation of metastasis colonies at vital organs like spleen, liver, and lung. Moreover, the survival rate of the tumor-bearing mice increased after about 22 days by phycocyanin C treatment in comparison with the control.
Conclusion: This is the first report demonstrating the anticancer effects of phycocyanin C on 4T1 breast tumor in vivo. Overall, our findings provided convincing evidence for the application of phycocyanin C as an anticancer therapeutic agent.
Keywords
How to cite this article:
Kefayat A, Yuosefzadeh M, Goli P, Babayi A, Rezaei A, Esmaeil N. Phycocyanin C a natural product with impressive therapeutic efficacy for inhibition of breast tumors’ growth and metastasis in vivo. Middle East J Cancer. 2021;12(2): 261-8. doi: 10.30476/mejc.2020. 83064.1130.
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