Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2019 Jul;62(4):242-248. 10.5468/ogs.2019.62.4.242.

Effect of quercetin on the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin in EMT6 breast tumor-bearing mice

• Liu H
• Lee JI
• Ahn TG

• KMID: 2451653
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2019.62.4.242

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of quercetin on the antitumor activity of cisplatin and its side-effects.
METHODS
EMT6 cells, a mouse breast cancer cell line, were injected subcutaneously in mice to generate a breast tumor-bearing mouse model. Experimental groups were divided into four groups: control (C), quercetin (Q), cisplatin (CP), and cisplatin+quercetin (CP+Q).
RESULTS
The tumor volume of the CP+Q group was significantly lower than that of the CP group. Serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in the CP+Q group were lower than those in the CP group. Renal γ-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly higher in the CP+Q group than in the CP group, and the content of renal thiobarbituric acid reactive substance was significantly lower in the CP+Q group than that in the CP group. These results suggested that quercetin and cisplatin synergistically increased cellular toxicity in breast cancer cells and mediated cancer growth inhibition, thereby enhancing the antitumor effect of cisplatin compared to when only cisplatin was administered. Quercetin also reduced renal toxicity, which arose as a potential a side effect of cisplatin.
CONCLUSION
The enhanced antitumor effect of cisplatin and decreased renal toxicity after quercetin treatment suggested the applicability of quercetin as an adjuvant for chemotherapeutic agents.

Keyword

Quercetin; Cisplatin; Breast cancer; Renal injury

MeSH Terms

Alkaline Phosphatase
Animals
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Breast Neoplasms
Breast*
Cell Line
Cisplatin*
Creatinine
Mice*
Quercetin*
Tumor Burden
Alkaline Phosphatase
Cisplatin
Creatinine
Quercetin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Photographs of quercetin and cisplatin-treated breast tumor-bearing mice. Breast tumor-bearing mice were treated with cisplatin (7 mg/kg) via intra-peritoneal injection every 3 days for a total of 12 days. Quercetin (30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 1 hour before cisplatin treatment. Q, quercetin; CP, cisplatin; CP+Q, cisplatin+quercetin.

• 

  Fig. 2 Effects of quercetin and cisplatin on tumor growth. Values with different superscripts in the same column are significantly different (P<0.05). C, control; Q, quercetin; CP, cisplatin; CP+Q, cisplatin+quercetin.

• 

  Fig. 3 The effects of dietary quercetin on blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in cisplatin-treated breast tumor-bearing mice. The BUN levels were determined 12 days after treatment. Values are expressed as mean±standard deviation (n=5). Values with different superscripts are significantly different at P<0.01 by Duncan's multiple range test. C, control; Q, quercetin; CP, cisplatin; CP+Q, cisplatin+quercetin.

• 

  Fig. 4 The effects of quercetin on serum creatinine levels in cisplatin-treated breast tumor-bearing mice. Serum creatinine levels were determined at 12 days after treatment. Values are expressed as mean±standard deviation (n=5). Values with different superscripts are significantly different at a level of P<0.01 by Duncan's multiple range test. C, control; Q, quercetin; CP, cisplatin; CP+Q, cisplatin+quercetin.

• 

  Fig. 5 The effects of quercetin on thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) content in kidneys of cisplatin treated tumor-bearing mice. Values with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.01). C, control; Q, quercetin; CP, cisplatin; CP+Q, cisplatin+quercetin.

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