Evaluation of antiproliferative effect of cisplatin and thymoquinone combination on MCF-7 cells

Abstract

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death among women and the most frequently diagnosed cancer type in the worldwide. Cisplatin (CDPP), a chemotherapeutic agent, is used in the treatment of breast cancer, but has serious side effects. In addition, the resistance of breast cancer cells such as MCF-7 to cisplatin complicates the treatment. Thymoquinone (TQ), a phytochemical compound found in black cumin, has been applied and investigated as an anticancer agent in different studies. The aim of this in vitro study is to investigate the antiproliferative effect of CDPP and TQ combination on MCF-7 cell line. In this study, MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of TQ, CDDP and thymoquinone:cisplatin combinations (TQ+CDDP) for 24 hours. MTT test were carried out for the cell viability determination and crystal violet staining methods were applied to observe colony formation. The IC50 value and combination index (CI) values that inhibit 50% of the MCF-7 cell population were calculated using the CompuSyn software program. It was shown that the IC50 dose of TQ, CDDP and TQ+CDDP on MCF-7 cells were 58 ?M, 32 ?M and 31 ?M+17 ?g/mL, respectively, and the CI value was 1.11. In conclusion, single doses of TQ and CDPP were shown to have antiproliferative effects on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. It was observed that the combination of TQ+CDDP showed an antiproliferative effect against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line in synergistic or antagonistic effects corresponding to different Fa values.