ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of NL-608 (a nutlin analog) on apoptosis induction in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vitro, and investigate the relevant molecular mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effect of NL-608 on proliferation of MCF-7 cells was determined by MTT assay. The apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was determined by flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC and PI. The activity of caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 was determined with caspase activity assay kit and Western blot, and the proteins of Fas and FasL were determined by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NL-608 showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. It induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of caspase 3 and caspase 8 in MCF-7 cells was increased with the increasing concentration of NL-608, but caspase 9 had no changes. The proteins of Fas and FasL were increased in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NL-608 induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells in vitro through inducing caspase 3 activity and death receptor-mediated signal pathway.</p>