Effect of Telomerase Inhibitors on Malignant Breast Cancer Cells

Current therapies have nominal effect on the most intrusive-type of breast cancers (triple-negative) that have a higher tendency to metastasize or recur. Recent studies reveal an enzyme, telomerase, as key for unlimited cell growth (immortality) and replication. Therefore, our objectives were to assess (i) short- and (ii) long-term effects of a novel anti-telomerase agent (GV6) developed at our institute and compare it to a known analogue, BIBR1532 on MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells. Cell viability was measured on days 5, 9, 14, 18 and 27 after treatment with GV6 (n=4), BIBR1532 (n=4) or Solvent alone (Control, n=3). The number of viable cells in GV6 and BIBR1532 treated flasks (T75) were about 40 % (p<.05) of Control by day 14. It further dropped to 30 % (p<.05) of Control by day 27 for both, GV6 and BIBR1532. Our results indicate the anti-proliferative effect of GV6 parallels that of BIBR1532 and should be investigated further