Effects of lovastatin on proliferation function of BRCA1-transfected breast cancer cells

  Objective   To study the effect of cholesterol inhibitor lovastatin on the proliferation function of BRCA1 transfected MCF 7 breast cancer cells.

  Methods   BRCA 1 gene overexpressing MCF 7 human breast cancer cell(MCF-7^BRCA1)were generated by gene transfectingtechnique.After beingtreated with 8 mol/L lovastatin for 1-3 d, the prolifera tion of nontransfected(MCF-7)cells and BRCA 1 transfected(MCF-7^BRCA1)cell were analyzed by growth curve, MTTand transmission electron microscope.

  Results   Lovastatin could inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and MCF-7^BRCA1 cells, but the changes was more obviously in MCF-7^BRCA1 cells than MCF-7 cells.Mean while, lovastatin could significantly induce the differentiation of MCF-7^BRCA1 cells.

  Conclusion   The overexpression of BRCA1 gene in MCF-7 cells coulden hance the funcion of inhibiting cells proliferation by lovastatin.