Crocin inhibit the metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cell line by suppressing epithelial to mesenchymal transition through WNT/β-catenin signalling pathway

Abstract

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer has the poorest prognosis and survival rates compared to other breast cancer subtypes due to its invasive behaviours. This type of cancer does not respond to biological therapies and exhibits resistance to available treatment options. Therefore, it is imperative to discover new therapeutics to address this challenge. Methods: In this study, a TNBC cell line was utilized to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of crocin on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Cell proliferation was assessed using the MTT assay, and the effects of crocin on migration were monitored through transwell and wound healing experiments. The expression of specific epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker genes was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction, and β-catenin expression was also examined through real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The findings revealed that crocin significantly inhibits cell proliferation and migration of tumour cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, crocin decreased the expression of Vimentin, Snail, Zeb-1, and β-catenin. Additionally, crocin increased the expression of E-cadherin in the MDA-MB-231 cell line. Conclusions: The results demonstrated an association between crocin and the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. In conclusion, this study establishes that crocin holds promise as a potential therapeutic option for triple-negative breast cancer.