3, 3'-Diindolylmethane-encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles accelerate molecular events during chemical carcinogen-induced mammary cancer in Sprague Dawley rats.

BACKGROUND

3, 3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a dietary indole compound; its medical application was limited because of poor bioavailability, unsatisfying dispersity, and rapid metabolism. To conquer this problem, nanoformulation of DIM was synthesized and investigated its mechanism-based chemotherapeutic potential.

METHODS

7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) 25 mg/kg b.wt initiated mammary carcinogenesis in rats, the investigational tumor model that closely resembles human mammary cancer. Rats had accessed after 8 weeks of tumor formation, DIM 10 mg/kg b.wt. and DIM@CS-NP 0.5 mg/kg b.wt. were administrated orally for 8 weeks.

RESULTS

The treatment with DIM@CS-NP 0.5 mg/kg b.wt. on DMBA-induced tumor-bearing rats was down-regulated Cyclin D1, Bcl-2 expression, and up-regulated proapoptotic proteins such as Bax, p53, Cytochrome-C, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 as compared to DIM 10 mg/kg b.wt. In addition, the mRNA expressions of Cyclin D1, Bcl-2 decreased and increased Bax, p53 expression, in immunohistochemical analysis decreased expressions of Cyclin D1 and PCNA in the treatment of DIM@CS-NP 0.5 mg/kg b.wt. compared to DIM 10 mg/kg b.wt. Histological analysis of tumor tissues shows abnormal in collagen deposition in with Masson's trichrome (MT) and Picrosirius red (PR) staining, the treatment of DIM@CS-NP 0.5 mg/kg b.wt. reduced the collagen deposition as compared to DIM 10 mg/kg b.wt.

CONCLUSION

Our results clearly provide evidence that DIM@CS-NP exerts chemotherapeutic effect than DIM in DMBA model of mammary cancer by hold back anomalous tumor cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis to intervene through alterations of up-regulated and down-regulated molecules. Taken together, the data provide new evidence for mechanism action of DIM@CS-NP on mammary cancer.