Research Article

Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model

Volume: 54 Number: 1 December 31, 2025
TR EN

Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model

Abstract

Investigating the interaction of cancer stem cells (CSCs) with the tumor microenvironment provides critical insights into their roles in promoting angiogenesis and metastasis through various cellular and molecular adaptation mechanisms, including survival, maintenance of stemness, dormancy, and treatment response. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the biological responses of CSCs following targeted treatment with phenolic oleuropein (OLE), a glycosylated seco-iridoid compound, within a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment. CD44⁺/CD24⁻/low CSCs were isolated from the MCF-7 cell line using magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS). The expression levels of stemness-related genes (OCT3/4, NANOG, SOX2) and drug resistance markers (ABCG1, ABCG2) were assessed in both MCF-7 cells and CSCs using RT-qPCR and the spheroid structures were further evaluated using the TUNEL assay to assess apoptotic activity. CSCs exhibited significantly elevated expression of ABCG1 and stemness markers (OCT3/4, NANOG, SOX2) compared to parental MCF-7 cells. Following OLE treatment, both static and dynamic cultures demonstrated increased expression of OCT3/4, NANOG, SOX2, SURVIVIN, CYCLIN-D1, and p21. Notably, while untreated cells expressed ABCG1 and ABCG2, these genes were not detectable in OLE-treated cells under either culture condition. Collectively, these findings underscore the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of OLE on CSCs and highlight its potential to counteract drug resistance mechanisms within a biomimetic 3D microenvironment.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Hacettepe University

Project Number

TSA-2019-18405

Ethical Statement

Ethical declaration is not required due to the use of cell lines in the study.

Thanks

This work was supported by Hacettepe University Scientific Research and Projects Unit, Project No: TSA-2019-18405.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cell Development, Proliferation and Death, Cellular Interactions, Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Other), Macromolecular Materials

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

July 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 14, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 54 Number: 1

APA
Altundağ Erdoğan, Ö., Ghulam Sarwar, M., & Çelebi Saltık, B. (2025). Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry, 54(1), 47-55. https://doi.org/10.15671/hjbc.1743955
AMA
1.Altundağ Erdoğan Ö, Ghulam Sarwar M, Çelebi Saltık B. Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model. HJBC. 2025;54(1):47-55. doi:10.15671/hjbc.1743955
Chicago
Altundağ Erdoğan, Özlem, Maryam Ghulam Sarwar, and Betül Çelebi Saltık. 2025. “Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model”. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry 54 (1): 47-55. https://doi.org/10.15671/hjbc.1743955.
EndNote
Altundağ Erdoğan Ö, Ghulam Sarwar M, Çelebi Saltık B (December 1, 2025) Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry 54 1 47–55.
IEEE
[1]Ö. Altundağ Erdoğan, M. Ghulam Sarwar, and B. Çelebi Saltık, “Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model”, HJBC, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 47–55, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.15671/hjbc.1743955.
ISNAD
Altundağ Erdoğan, Özlem - Ghulam Sarwar, Maryam - Çelebi Saltık, Betül. “Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model”. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry 54/1 (December 1, 2025): 47-55. https://doi.org/10.15671/hjbc.1743955.
JAMA
1.Altundağ Erdoğan Ö, Ghulam Sarwar M, Çelebi Saltık B. Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model. HJBC. 2025;54:47–55.
MLA
Altundağ Erdoğan, Özlem, et al. “Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model”. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry, vol. 54, no. 1, Dec. 2025, pp. 47-55, doi:10.15671/hjbc.1743955.
Vancouver
1.Özlem Altundağ Erdoğan, Maryam Ghulam Sarwar, Betül Çelebi Saltık. Oleuropein Inhibits Cancer Stemness in a Dynamic 3D Breast Tumor Model. HJBC. 2025 Dec. 1;54(1):47-55. doi:10.15671/hjbc.1743955

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