Pterostilbene and tamoxifen show an additive effect against breast cancer in vitro. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Pterostilbene and tamoxifen show an additive effect against breast cancer in vitro.
Am J Surg. 2010 Nov;200(5):577-80. PMID: 21056131
The University of Vermont/Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, USA. [email protected]
BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen is widely used for the treatment of breast cancer. Pterostilbene, a bioavailable stilbenoid found in blueberries, has been found to inhibit breast cancer growth in vitro. It was hypothesized that combining pterostilbene with tamoxifen would produce additive effects on estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells.
METHODS: Two estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 and ZR-751, were pretreated with graduated doses of pterostilbene for 24 hours, followed by 5μmol/L tamoxifen. MTT proliferation assays and Cell Death Detection ELISA(PLUS) tests evaluated cell viability and apoptosis.
RESULTS: MCF7 cells showed inhibition (10 and 20μmol/L, P<.001; 30μmol/L, P<.05) at all time points when combined with tamoxifen. ZR-751 cells showed additive reductions in cell viability (P<.001). Cell Death Detection ELISA(PLUS) indicated increased apoptosis (P<.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Pterostilbene shows an additive inhibitory effect on breast cancer cells when combined with tamoxifen, most likely from augmented cancer cell apoptosis.