Effects of Formononetin on Proliferation and Cell Cycle of Different Subtypes of Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Objective To investigate the effects of formononetin on proliferation and cell cycle of three subtypes of breast cancer cell lines:MDA-MB-468,MCF-7 and SK-BR-3. Methods Three subtypes breast cancer cell lines were treated with different concentrations of formononetin.Then cell proliferation,PCNA expression,cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by MTT assay,Western blot,TUNEL method and flow cytometry. Results Formononetin with concentration of exceeded 20 μm could inhibit the cell proliferation,decrease the protein expression of PCNA and induce G1 phase cell cycle arrest in three subtypes of breast cancer cell lines. Conclusion Formononetin inhibited proliferation of breast cancer cells through down-regulaton of PCNA protein expression and arrest of the cell cycle at G1 phase.