Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by quercetin

  • Authors:
    • Jung-A Choi
    • Ja-Young Kim
    • Jeong-Yim Lee
    • Chang-Mo Kang
    • Ho-Jeong Kwon
    • Young-Do Yoo
    • Tae-Whan Kim
    • Yun-Sil Lee
    • Su-Jae Lee
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 1, 2001     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.19.4.837
  • Pages: 837-844
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Abstract

Quercetin, a widely distributed bioflavonoid, has been shown to induce growth inhibition in certain cancer cell types. In the present study we have pursued the mechanism of growth inhibition in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Quercetin treatment resulted in the accumulation of cells specifically at G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Mitotic index measured by MPM2 staining clearly showed that cells were transiently accumulated in M phase, 24 h after treatment. The transient M phase accumulation was accompanied by a transient increase in the levels of cyclin B1 and Cdc2 kinase activity. However, 24 h or longer treatment caused a marked accumulation of cells in G2 instead of M phase. Levels of cyclin B1 and cyclin B1-associated Cdc2 kinase activity were also decreased. We also found that quercetin markedly increased Cdk-inhibitor p21CIP1/WAF1 protein level after treatment for 48 h or longer, and the induction of p21CIP1/WAF1 increased its association with Cdc2-cyclin B1 complex, however, up-regulation of p53 by quercetin was not observed. Quercetin also induced significant apoptosis in MCF-7 cells in addition to cell cycle arrest, and the induction of apoptosis was markedly blocked by antisense p21CIP1/WAF1 expression. The present data, therefore, demonstrate that a flavonoid quercetin induces growth inhibition in the human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 through at least two different mechanisms; by inhibiting cell cycle progression through transient M phase accumulation and subsequent G2 arrest, and by inducing apoptosis.

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October 2001
Volume 19 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Choi J, Kim J, Lee J, Kang C, Kwon H, Yoo Y, Kim T, Lee Y and Lee S: Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by quercetin. Int J Oncol 19: 837-844, 2001.
APA
Choi, J., Kim, J., Lee, J., Kang, C., Kwon, H., Yoo, Y. ... Lee, S. (2001). Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by quercetin. International Journal of Oncology, 19, 837-844. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.19.4.837
MLA
Choi, J., Kim, J., Lee, J., Kang, C., Kwon, H., Yoo, Y., Kim, T., Lee, Y., Lee, S."Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by quercetin". International Journal of Oncology 19.4 (2001): 837-844.
Chicago
Choi, J., Kim, J., Lee, J., Kang, C., Kwon, H., Yoo, Y., Kim, T., Lee, Y., Lee, S."Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by quercetin". International Journal of Oncology 19, no. 4 (2001): 837-844. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.19.4.837