Whole Blueberry Powder Modulates the Growth and Metastasis or MDA-MB-231 Triple Negative Breast Tumors in Nude Mice.

Abstract

Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated that blueberry extract exhibited anti tumor activity against (BB): MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and decreased metastatic potential in vitro. The current study tested 2 doses or whole BB powder, 5 and 10% (wt: wt) in MDA-MB-231 the diet, against tumor growth in female nude mice. In this study, tumor volume was 75% lower in mice fed the 5% BB diet and 60% lower in mice fed the 10% BB diet than in control mice (P ≤ 0.05). Tumor cell proliferation (Ki-67) was lower in the 5 and 10% BB-fed mice and cell death (Caspase 3) was greater in the 10% BB-fed mice compared to control mice (P ≤ 0.05). Gene analysis of tumor tissues from the 5% BB-fed mice revealed significantly altered expression of genes important to inflammation, cancer, metastasis and, specifically, Wnt signaling, thrombospondin-2, IL-13, and IFNγ. To confirm effects on Wnt signaling, analysis of tumor tissues from BB-fed mice revealed lower 5% β-glycogen synthase kinase-3β catenin expression and phosphorylation with greater expression of β-catenin protein adenomatous polyposis coli the inhibitory compared to controls. A second study tested the ability of the 5% BB diet to inhibit MDA-MB-231-D3H2LN-luc metastasis in vivo. In this study, 5% BB-fed mice developed 70% fewer liver metastases (P = 0.04) and 25% fewer lymph node metastases (P = 0.09) compared to control mice. This study demonstrates the oral anti tumor and metastasis activity or whole BB powder against TNBC in mice.