Abstract
Background Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been in therapeutic use since the 18th century for various types of cancers
including skin and breast; however, it gained popularity following FDA approval for
its use against acute promyelocytic leukemia. This present work was designed to evaluate
the anti-cancer potential of a homeopathic potency of arsenic trioxide (Arsenicum album 6C) in hormone-dependent breast cancer.
Methods Breast cancer cells (MCF7) were treated with Arsenicum album (Ars 6C) to evaluate its anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential. We examined the effect
of Ars 6C on the cell cycle, wound healing, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and
modulation of expression of key genes which are aberrant in cancer.
Results Treating breast cancer cells with Ars 6C halted the cell cycle at the sub-G0 and G2/M phases, which could be attributed
to DNA damage induced by the generation of ROS. Apoptotic induction was associated
with upregulation of Bax expression, with concurrent downregulation of the Bcl-2 gene.
Ars 6C was also seen to reverse epithelial to mesenchymal transition and reduce the migration
of breast cancer cells.
Conclusion The findings suggest that Ars has significant anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential against breast cancer
cells. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism by which Ars exerts its effect in the in vivo setting.
Keywords
breast cancer - homeopathy - arsenic trioxide -
Arsenicum album
- apoptosis - cell cycle - migration - ROS generation - hallmarks of cancer
