Abstract: Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the role of sulindac in sensitization effects of NF-κB on apoptosis induced by TNF-α in human breast cancer.Methods The human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line was added sulindal in the logarithmic growth phase and the final concentrations of sulindac were 0.5 and 1.0mmol/L.The cells in control group was cultured without adding succinic acid.After sulindac treatment for 48h,flow cytometry,MTT and Western blotting were used to analyze the effect and mechanism of cell growth in MCF-7 cells.Results The inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was(29.17±1.23)% and(38.15±1.51)% in MCF-7 cells treated with 0.5 and 1.0mmol/L of Sulindac for 48h,respectively,when compared to the control group(1.15 ± 0.02)%(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,0.5 and 1.0mmol/L of sulindac were significantly increased the G₀/G₁ phase in MCF-7 cells(P＜0.05).The apoptosis rate of sulindac in MCF-7 cells was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of TNF-α were(2.09±0.67)% and(1.18±0.09)% in the concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0mmol/L sulindac,respectively,in MCF-7 cells when compared to the control group(7.42±0.56)%.Conclusion Sulindac has a certain effect on the growth of human breast cancer cells,which can promote the prolongation of cell cycle at the G₀/G₁ phase and improve sensitization of apoptosis.This mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TNF-α activity.

Key words: Sulindac, NF-κB, TNF-α, Cell apoptosis, Sensitization effect