Key results
Icariin selectively inhibited proliferation and triggered apoptosis in
TNBC cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, but exhibited
little cytotoxicity in normal breast cells. Moreover, icariin induced
cell apoptosis via a mitochondria-mediated pathway, as indicated by
upregulated ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and ROS induction. Importantly, icariin
impaired activation of NF-κB/EMT pathway by upregulating expression of
SIRT6, resulting in inhibition of migration and invasion of breast
cancer cells. Additionally, oss-128167, an inhibitor of SIRT6,
dramatically attenuated anti-migration and anti-invasion effects of
icariin. Notably, icariin exhibited a significant tumor growth
inhibition and anti-pulmonary metastasis effect in a tumor mouse model
of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells by regulating tumor immunosuppressive
microenvironment.