Investigation of Antiproliferative, Apoptotic, and Migration Activity of Combination of Paclitaxel and Aloe Vera in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to determine whether it is possible to increase the cytotoxic effects of known anti-cancer agents with natural compounds. For this purpose, the antiproliferative effect of Aloe vera (AVE) against human breast cancer (MCF-7) and lung cancer (A549) and the in vitro potential anticancer activity of its combination with Paclitaxel (PAX) were investigated.
METHODS: The antiproliferative activity of the AVE and AVE-PAX combination was assessed against MCF-7 and A549 cancer cell lines and non-cancer cell (BEAS-2B) using xCELLigence real-time cell analysis. Cell apoptosis was determined by DNA laddering assay and Annexin V/FITC flow cytometer, and cell migration was evaluated by wound healing assay.
RESULTS: Treatment with the AVE and AVE-PAX significantly increased the antiproliferative activity in A549, MCF-7, and BEAS-2B cells compared to the control group (p<0.05). AVE-PAX combination administration resulted in earlier antiproliferative activity than AVE in all three cell lines (p<0.05). It was determined that when 24 µg/mL AVE and 5 µM PAX were applied together, it triggered the apoptotic process in A549 and MCF-7 cells and showed an anti-migration effect.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In our study, the combination of AVE-PAX reduced the growth and cell migration of MCF-7 and A549 cells with low PAX susceptibility in vitro and induced early apoptosis of A549 and MCF-7 cells. These results show that the use of AVE together with PAX is effective in NSCLC and breast cancer and has a synergistic effect.