Parthenolide Inhibits Migration and Reverses the EMT Process in Breast Cancer Cells by Suppressing TGFβ and TWIST1

Abstract Breast cancer metastasis is the leading cause of mortality among breast cancer patients. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that plays a fundamental role in facilitating breast cancer metastasis. The present study assessed the efficacy of parthenolide (PTL,Tanacetum parthenium) on EMT and its underlying mechanisms in in both lowly metastatic, estrogen-receptor positive, MCF-7 cells and highly metastatic triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cells. Cell viability was determined by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethy lthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. Apoptosis was analyzed by FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) annexin V apoptosis detection kit. The monolayer wound scratch assay was employed to evaluate cancer cell migration. Proteins were separated and identified by Western blotting. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. PTL treatment significantly reduced cell viability and migration while inducing apoptosis in both cell lines. Also, PTL treatment reverses the EMT process by decreasing the mesenchymal marker vimentin and increasing the epithelial marker E-cadherin compared to the control treatment. Importantly, PTL downregulates TWIST1 (a transcription factor and regulator of EMT) gene expression concomitant with the reduction of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) protein and gene expression in both cell lines. Our findings provide insights into the therapeutic potential of PTL to mitigate EMT and breast cancer metastasis. These promising results demand in vivo studies.