Ribosomal inactivating plant protein: The regulator of tumor suppressor and oncogenes in breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer, a leading malignancy in females, accounts for a significant proportion of cancer related deaths worldwide (~12%). Novel medicines are required to control disease burden. Plants genera is a big source for naturally occurring anticancer compounds. Riproximin, a purified protein obtained from a plant, has shown substantial anticancer potential against cancer cells. The current study was designed to identify cytotoxic effects and expressional changes in tumor suppressors and oncogenes at transcriptome levels induced by the selected ribosomal inactivating plant protein (riproximin) in breast cancer cells. Methods: In preliminary phase, toxic effects of the protein were identified against breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) by a dye reduction assay. In a separate experiment, the cells were exposed to the protein and expressional modulations in 3 selective tumor suppressors and oncogenes (REL, FOS, KITLG) were identified by using a ready-made PCR methodology. Results: Riproximin induced anti-proliferative effects in the breast cancer cells. Exposure of the cells with various concentrations of riproximin showed concentration dependent effects of the compound on expressional profile of the selected genes. The three genes were substantially induced in the cells. Conclusion: Riproximin bears significant cytotoxic potential and modulates the genes in breast cancer cells.