Ann Surg Treat Res.
2025 Feb;108(2):108-123. 10.4174/astr.2025.108.2.108.
Synergistic anticancer effects of mitochondria-targeting peptide combined with paclitaxel in breast cancer cells: a preclinical study
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Surgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- 2Catholic Central Laboratory of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Industry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- 3Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Korea
- 4Department of Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- KMID: 2564250
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2025.108.2.108
Abstract
- Purpose
Mitochondria-accumulating amphiphilic peptide (Mito-FF) was designed to selectively target mitochondria in cancer cells and enhance anticancer effects through its unique structure. Mito-FF consists of (1) diphenylalanine, a β-sheet-forming building block critical for self-assembly; (2) triphenylphosphonium, a mitochondrial targeting moiety guiding the peptide to mitochondria; and (3) pyrene, a fluorescent probe enabling visualization of its accumulation and selfassembly. This study evaluates the anticancer efficacy of Mito-FF in breast cancer cells and explores its combination with paclitaxel, a standard therapy for breast cancer, focusing on its modulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway.
Methods
In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines and their respective xenograft models. Cell viability, migration, EMT marker expression, and apoptosis-related proteins were analyzed.
Results
Mito-FF demonstrated superior inhibition of cell viability and migration compared to paclitaxel alone in both cell lines. Combination therapy with Mito-FF and paclitaxel resulted in enhanced reduction of cell viability and migration. EMT markers were significantly modulated, with decreased mesenchymal markers (Snail and vimentin) and increased epithelial marker (E-cadherin) following combination treatment. Furthermore, the combination therapy synergistically elevated proapoptotic markers such as poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase and reduced anti-apoptotic markers such as myeloid cell leukemia 1. In vivo experiments revealed a marked reduction in tumor volume with combination therapy, accompanied by the highest expression levels of E-cadherin and pro-apoptotic marker Bim.
Conclusion
Mito-FF, designed for mitochondrial targeting and visualization, exhibited potent anticancer effects when combined with paclitaxel, in the breast cancer cells.
- Full Text Links
-
- Actions
-
Cited
- CITED
-
- Close
- Share
-
- Similar articles
-
- Antitumor Effects of Camptothecin Combined with Conventional Anticancer Drugs on the Cervical and Uterine Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line SiHa
- Synergistic anticancer activity of disulfiram/copper against mouse lymphoma cells
- Schedule-Dependent Effect of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) with Paclitaxel on H460 Cells
- Doxorubicin Promotes Migration and Invasion of Breast Cancer Cells through the Upregulation of the RhoA/MLC Pathway
- Anti-cancer Activity of Paclitaxel, Lenvatinib and Radiation Combination Therapy on Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer in Vitro and in Vivo
