Protective Role of N-Acetylcysteine on the Cytotoxic Effect of Paclitaxel in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a low molecular weight and thiol-containing antioxidant. The free radical scavenging property is linked to the nucleophilicity and redox interactions of the thiol group. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel used in chemotherapeutic treatment of breast cancer and N-Acetylcysteine, an antioxidant molecule, on MCF7 cells. In the MCF7 breast cancer cell line, the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel is 7.5 μM and 10 μM and N-acetylcysteine's 10mM, 25mM, 50mM, 75mM dose combinations on the cells were determined by WST1 test at 24, 48 and 72 hours incubation times. N-Acetylcysteine showed proliferative effect on breast cancer cells. This effect persisted when combined with paclitaxel and weakened the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel. However, the proliferative effect of NAC decreased with increasing incubation time. Colony forming ability of applied combinations at MCF 7 cells is also supports the results of cytotoxicity. In vivo and in vitro longer-term studies that will be used concurrently with conventional cancer treatment and NAC will contribute to clarify the issue.

Key words: N-Acetylcysteine, paclitaxel, MCF7

Special Issue of Health Sciences

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-03-23