Anticancer effects of the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-demethoxy-reblastatin in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) possesses a higher rate of distant recurrence and a poorer prognosis than other breast cancer subtypes. Interestingly, most of the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) client proteins are oncoproteins, and some are closely related to unfavorable factors of TNBC patients. 17-Demethoxy-reblastatin (17-DR), a novel nonbenzoquinone- type geldanamycin analog, exhibited potent Hsp90 ATPase inhibition activity. In this study, the anticancer effects of 17-DR on TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells were investigated. These results showed that 17-DR inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and suppressed cell invasion and migration in the MDA-MB-231 cells. Down-regulation of the key Hsp90-dependent tumor-driving molecules, such as RIP1 and MMP-9, by 17-DR may be related to these effects. Taken together, our results suggest that 17-DR has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of TNBC.