Low-dose aspirin can inhibit exosomal release induced by radiotherapy in breast cancer and attenuate its inhibitory effect on NK cell proliferation

Background: Breast cancer (BC) seriously threatens women's health. Aspirin plays a key role in the treatment and prognosis of BC. Objective: To explore the effect of low-dose aspirin on BC radiotherapy through the mechanism of exosomes and natural killer (NK) cells. Methods: BC cells were injected into the left chest wall to establish a BC model in nude mice. Tumor morphology and size were observed. Immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 was used to observe the proliferation of tumor cells. TUNEL was used to detect the apoptosis of cancer cells. Protein levels of exosomal biogenesis- and secretion-related genes (Rab 11, Rab27a, Rab27b, CD63, and Alix) were detected by Western blot. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. Transwell assays were used to detect cell migration. A clonogenic assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Exosomes of BT549 and 4T1-Luc cells were extracted and observed by electron microscopy. After the coculture of exosomes and NK cells, the activity of NK cells was detected by CCK-8. Results: The protein expression of genes related to exosomal genesis and secretion (Rab 11, Rab27a, Rab27b, CD63, and Alix) in BT549 and 4T1-Luc cells was upregulated under radiotherapy treatment. Low doses of aspirin inhibited exosome release from BT549 and 4T1-Luc cells and alleviated the inhibitory effect of BC cell exosomes on NK cell proliferation. In addition, knocking down Rab27a reduced the protein levels of exosome-related and secretion-related genes in BC cells, further enhancing the promotive effect of aspirin on NK cell proliferation, while overexpressing Rab27a had the opposite effect. Aspirin was combined at a radiotherapeutic dose of 10 Gy to enhance the radiotherapy sensitivity of radiotherapy-tolerant BC cells (BT549R and 4T1-LucR). Animal experiments have also verified that aspirin can promote the killing effect of radiotherapy on cancer cells and significantly inhibit tumor growth. Conclusion: Low doses of aspirin can inhibit the release of BC exosomes induced by radiotherapy and weaken their inhibition of NK cell proliferation, promoting radiotherapy resistance.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effect of low-dose aspirin on breast cancer radiotherapy through the mechanism of exosomes and natural killer cells. The results showed that low-dose aspirin could inhibit the release of breast cancer cell exosomes and alleviate their inhibitory effect on natural killer cell proliferation. In addition, aspirin could enhance the radiotherapy sensitivity of breast cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth.