Preclinical evaluation of anti-orbital ionic calcium compounds reveals differential Annexin V/PI-Defined cell death profiles in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND

Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer frequently develops resistance to conventional therapies, highlighting the need for novel preclinical approaches targeting calcium homeostasis and metabolic stress.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

ER-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with increasing concentrations of fatty acid anti-orbital ionic calcium (AIC-FA) and liquid anti-orbital ionic calcium stealth glucose (AIC-SG) (150-9.125 µg/mL) for 0-72 h. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, and apoptosis and necrosis were analyzed by Annexin V/Propidium Iodide flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Both AIC-FA and AIC-SG reduced cell viability at 24, 48, and 72 h compared with the control group (p < 0.05), with more pronounced effects observed at later time points. No significant differences were detected at the 0-hour time point. Flow cytometry showed changes in Annexin V/PI-defined cell death populations, with AIC-FA associated with increased early apoptotic-like and necrotic-like populations (p < 0.05), whereas AIC-SG showed a greater tendency toward necrotic-like populations. Both compounds significantly reduced the proportion of live cells (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

AIC-FA and AIC-SG reduced cell viability in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and were associated with partially different Annexin V/PI-defined cell death profiles. These findings support further investigation of the cytotoxic effects of these compounds in preclinical breast cancer models.