Comparative evaluation of the effect of silymarin on the metastatic character of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells with 2D and 3D culture methods

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide and metastasis plays a critical role in the lethality of cancer. In this study, the effects of Silymarin on two different breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) were investigated. Cells were grown in both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cultures and treated with silymarin. In the study, various analyses were performed to determine how Silymarin affects the spread of cells and the expression of genes and proteins associated with metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Silymarin on metastatic properties in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and to evaluate how these effects differ in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models. In order to determine the effective dose of silymarin in the study, MTT cell viability was determined using both 2D and 3D culture methods. The expressions of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins were evaluated using 2D culture methods such as wound healing assay, PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses with the determined doses. Simultaneously, spheroids were formed with the 3D culture method and transwell cell migration, PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Applications were made to the cells for genetic and histochemical analyses. As a result, it was found that silymarin can effectively modulate the proliferation, migration and EMT process of breast cancer cells in both 2D and 3D cell culture models. 3D cultures comprehensively reflect the anti-cancer effects of silymarin and obtain realistic results by better mimicking the in vivo environment. The findings of our study support that silymarin can be evaluated as a potential agent in the treatment of breast cancer.