Gold nanoparticles induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and enhance the expression of E-cadherin in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the most common types of cancer in women worldwide. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells MCF-7. To achieve this goal, cells were exposed to AuNPs (0.05 mg/mL) with sizes 10 nm and 30 nm for 24 h. Cell viability was assayed using MTT assay, and cell cycle phases distribution was also evaluated using flow cytometry analysis. Apoptosis test was also carried out using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. CDH1 and PALB2 expression were profiled using qPCR. Data obtained indicated that the 30-nm AuNPs significantly reduced the overall cell viability and were capable to arrest cells at G2/M. Total apoptosis was significantly increased in the treated cells compared with control. Treatment significantly upregulated CDH1 and downregulated PALB2. These results indicated the potentiality of using bare AuNPs to treat BC in vitro, however, these data demand further studies.