Evaluation of anti-tumor and anti-apoptotic effects of stigmasterol on MCL-1 and Bcl-xL gene expression in animal models of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. One of the causes of cancer mortality is the increased anti-apoptotic activity of cancer cells. Phytosterols are a group of natural compounds that inhibit the growth of various cancer cells through various mechanisms. Stigmasterol, as one of the compounds in the phytosterols group, has anti-cancer effects. In the present study, the anti-tumor and apoptotic effects of stigmasterol on the expression of MCL-1 and BCL-XL genes in animal models of breast cancer were investigated.

In our experimental study, 15 BALB/C mice in 3 groups were transplanted subcutaneously with a breast tumor. The first group received 6 mg/kg stigmasterol, the second group received 20 mg/kg cyclophosphamide, and the third group (control) received ethanol solution diluted with PBS (1:2) with intraperitoneal injection (IP). Tumor volume was measured for 10 days using digital caliper. Mice were then sacrificed and their tumor tissue was examined for changes in tumor size and the expression of BCL-XL and MCL-1 genes using real-time PCR.

Treatment of tumor mice with stigmasterol reduced tumor size (*p<0.05) and also reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (MCL-1, BCL-XL) with a significant difference as compared to the control group (***p <0.001).

Our findings indicate the anti-tumor and apoptotic properties of stigmasterol and introduces new insights into the production of effective natural compounds in the treatment of cancer.