Taxol and cisplatin inhibit proliferation of T47D human breast cancer cells.

We have examined the influence of taxol and cisplatin on the rate and extent of proliferation of T47D cells grown in the presence of 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS). An 8-day exposure of the cells to taxol inhibited the growth completely maintaining the number of cells to the level seen at initial plating. The taxol effect was evident at 10 nM-1 microM concentration and the half maximum inhibition was calculated to be 20 nM taxol. While the cells in the control group taxol-treated group remained at the initial number. Similar observations were made regarding the influence of cisplatin, which caused 80-90% inhibition in the number of the cells. When combined, taxol and cisplatin caused a further inhibition in the proliferation of T47D cells. The results of our studies demonstrate that both taxol and cisplatin, the known antineoplastic agents, block the proliferation of T47D human breast cancer cells effectively and are potentially useful chemotherapeutic agents for the management of breast cancer.