Anticancer properties of propofol-docosahexaenoate and propofol-eicosapentaenoate on breast cancer cells

doi:10.1186/bcr1036

Breast Cancer Research

Volume 7
Issue 5

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Siddiqui RA
Zerouga M
Wu M
Castillo A
Harvey K
Zaloga GP
Stillwell W

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Zerouga M
Wu M
Castillo A
Harvey K
Zaloga GP
Stillwell W
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Research article

Anticancer properties of propofol-docosahexaenoate and propofol-eicosapentaenoate on breast cancer cells

Rafat A Siddiqui¹^,2^,3 , Mustapha Zerouga¹ , Min Wu¹ , Alicia Castillo¹ , Kevin Harvey¹ , Gary P Zaloga¹^,2 and William Stillwell¹^,3

¹Methodist Research Institute, Clarian Health Partners, Indianapolis, IN, USA

²Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

³Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, USA

author email corresponding author email

Breast Cancer Research 2005, 7:R645-R654doi:10.1186/bcr1036


Published:	7 June 2005

Abstract

Introduction

Epidemiological evidence strongly links fish oil, which is rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), with low incidences of several types of cancer. The inhibitory effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cancer development and progression are supported by studies with cultured cells and animal models. Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is the most extensively used general anesthetic–sedative agent employed today and is nontoxic to humans at high levels (50 μg/ml). Clinically relevant concentrations of propofol (3 to 8 μg/ml; 20 to 50 μM) have also been reported to have anticancer activities. The present study describes the synthesis, purification, characterization and evaluation of two novel anticancer conjugates, propofol-docosahexaenoate (propofol-DHA) and propofol-eicosapentaenoate (propofol-EPA).

Methods

The conjugates linking an omega-3 fatty acid, either DHA or EPA, with propofol were synthesized and tested for their effects on migration, adhesion and apoptosis on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Results

At low concentrations (25 μM), DHA, EPA or propofol alone or in combination had minimal effect on cell adhesion to vitronectin, cell migration against serum and the induction of apoptosis (only 5 to 15% of the cells became apoptotic). In contrast, the propofol-DHA or propofol-EPA conjugates significantly inhibited cell adhesion (15 to 30%) and migration (about 50%) and induced apoptosis (about 40%) in breast cancer cells.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the novel propofol-DHA and propofol-EPA conjugates reported here may be useful for the treatment of breast cancer.