Effects of Eucheuma Cottoni L Algae on COX2 and SOD genes in Breast Cancer Tissue Induced in Balb-C Mice by REAL-TIME PCR

Edible red algae Eucheuma Cottoni is grown economically to produce carrageenan and agar on tropical beaches in some parts of East Asia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Eucheuma Cottoni on breast cancer in a mouse model.

Breast tumor has been induced by subcutaneous injection of MC4L2 cells in female rat breast tissue. 4 weeks after tumor growth, mice were treated orally with algae extract and tamoxifen. In this study, the effects of algae extract and tamoxifen were evaluated on expression of COX2 and SOD genes in 40 mice exposed to MC4L2 cancer cells. The mice were divided into 4 groups: 1) Algae treated group 2) Tamoxifen treated group 3) Cancer group with MC4L2 cells or positive control 4) Normal or negative control group. The expression of the COX2 and SOD markers in gene level was analyzed by RT-qPCR.

Extract and tamoxifen treatment resulted in decreased expression of the two genes studied. In general, the Real Time-PCR method verified the positive effects of the treatments on breast cancer cells.

The information suggests that these prognostic markers are important for treatment as the main goals and that the algae extract can be used as an alternative to tamoxifen and many other anticancer drugs, due to its antioxidant effects without toxicity on the human body.