Boric Acid Treatment Strengthens the Cytotoxic Effect of Sorafenib on Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

In recent years, it has been demonstrated that combinational therapies have shown promising results in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. However, the effect of the sequential combination of sorafenib with boric acid on cell viability in triple negative breast cancer cell lines is unknown. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the effects of sequential treatment of boric acid and sorafenib on cell viability in triple negative breast cancer cell lines. MDA-MB-231 cells were used in our study. Sorafenib was treated to the cells at a dose range of 0.5-16µM, and boric acid at 1-160mM. Changes in cell viability were determined using by MTT analysis at 24,48 and 72 hours. Cell viability decreased statistically significantly at 4µM and above doses of sorafenib, and 5mM and above doses of boric acid (p<0.05). IC50 values of boric acid were calculated as 34mM, 26mM and 1mM at hours 24,48 and 72, respectively. Alone treatment of sorafenib at 8µM and 16µM doses reduced cell viability up to 80% and 61%, respectively. On the other hand, 15mM boric acid treatment followed by sorafenib treatment at 8µM and 16µM doses decreased cell viability up to 64% and 44%, respectively (p<0.05). Also, it was observed that boric acid treatment followed by sorafenib treatment caused MDA-MB-231 cells to diverge from their ancestral morphology, resulting in an unhealthier appearance. Our results suggest that a sequential treatment of boric acid followed by sorafenib strengthens the cytotoxic effect of sorafenib on triple negative breast cancer cell lines.

Keywords

• Boric Acid
• Boron
• Sorafenib
• Triple negative breast cancer

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