ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that local anesthetics may induce apoptosis in some cell types. In this study, we investigated the apoptotic effects of local anesthetics in human breast tumor cells. METHODS: Human breast cancer (MCF-7) and mammary epithelial (MCF-10A) cell lines were treated with lidocaine and/or bupivacaine. Cell viability, DNA fragmentation, and annexin V immunofluorescence staining were assessed. The effects on apoptosis-related protein expression were investigated by Western blot analysis. The findings were extended to studies in an in vivo xenograft model. RESULTS: Treatment of breast tumor cells with lidocaine and bupivacaine resulted in inhibition of cell viability via induction of apoptosis. The effects were more prominent in MCF-7 cells than in MCF-10A cells. Treatment with local anesthetics induced caspase 7, 8, 9, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage. The cleavage of caspase 7 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase induced by local anesthetics were effectively blocked by caspase inhibitors. Furthermore, treatment of MCF-7 xenografts with local anesthetics resulted in higher expression of cleaved caspase 7 and an increase in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. CONCLUSION: Lidocaine and bupivacaine induce apoptosis of breast tumor cells at clinically relevant concentrations. Our results reveal previously unrecognized beneficial actions of local anesthetics and call for further studies to assess the oncologic advantages of their use during breast cancer surgery.
Subject(s)
Anesthetics, Local/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , Breast Neoplasms , Anesthetics, Local/therapeutic use , Animals , Apoptosis/physiology , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Line, Transformed , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cell Survival/physiology , Female , Humans , MCF-7 Cells , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays/methodsABSTRACT
Producing well-fitting garments has been a challenge for retailers and manufacturers since mass production began. Poorly fitted bras can cause discomfort or pain and result in lost sales for retailers. Because body contours are important factors affecting bra fit, this study analyses the relationship of physical characteristics to bra-fit problems. This study has used 3-D body-scanning technology to extract upper body angles from a sample of 103 college women; these data were used to categorise physical characteristics into shoulder slope, bust prominence, back curvature and acromion placement. Relationships between these physical categories and bra-fit problems were then analysed. Results show that significant main effects and two-way interactions of the physical categories exist in the fit problems of poor bra support and bra-motion restriction. The findings are valuable in helping the apparel industry create better-fitting bras. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: Poorly fitted bras can cause discomfort or pain and result in lost sales for retailers. The findings regarding body-shape classification provide researchers with a statistics method to quantify physical characteristics and the findings regarding the relationship analysis between physical characteristics and bra fit offer bra companies valuable information about bra-fit perceptions attributable to women with figure variations.