PIPERINE IN THE PREVENTION OF THE DECREASED TAMOXIFEN SENSITIVITY IN MCF-7 BREAST CANCER CELL LINE

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the role of piperine in modulating P-glycoprotein mRNA expression when added in combination withtamoxifen to breast cancer cells in culture.Methods: MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with 1 μM tamoxifen with or without piperine (12.5, 25, or 50 μM) or verapamil 50 μM (P-glycoproteininhibitor positive control) for up to 12 days. We assessed the cell viability and isolated total RNA from them. We quantified P-glycoprotein expressionsusing quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Results: Administration of various doses of piperine decreased MCF-7 breast cancer cell viability. Piperine, when given in combination with tamoxifen,decreased the expression of P-glycoprotein mRNA in cells compared with the expression in cells treated with tamoxifen only. The effects were shownto be dose dependent.Conclusion: Piperine prevents the development of breast cancer cell tamoxifen resistance, probably through its inhibition of P-glycoprotein expression