Effect of erucic acid against DMBA-induced breast cancer via inflammatory/apoptosis pathway

This study was conducted to evaluate the anticancer effect of erucic acid in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer in rats. Female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups. The rats were either administered subcutaneous injections of DMBA (25 mg/kg body weight) followed by erucic acid at selected doses (10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) for 5 weeks after tumor development, erucic acid alone, or were left untreated. Various physiological and biochemical parameters, including tumor volume, glucose levels, liver-function markers [blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine], antioxidant markers [malonaldehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH)], hormonal levels (progesterone and estrogen), paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, were evaluated. Additionally, serum levels of cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), inflammatory markers [tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB)], and apoptosis markers (caspase-3, caspase-9, Bcl-2, and Bax) were estimated to gain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of erucic acid treatment. Additionally, histopathological examinations of the mammary tissue were conducted to correlate microscopic tissue architecture with biochemical findings. DMBA exposure led to 100 % tumor incidence with significant increases in the levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and NF-κB), serum glucose, kidney biomarkers (BUN and creatinine), MDA, hormones (estrogen and progesterone), PGE2, CA 15-3, and proapoptotic markers (Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax) and disrupted the tissue architecture. Erucic acid treatment significantly reduced the tumor burden, glucose levels, and inflammatory and apoptotic markers, and restored the antioxidant levels. Histological analysis confirmed tissue reorganization and a reduction in cell proliferation. Overall, erucic acid exhibited considerable chemopreventive potential against DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and metabolic dysfunction. These findings highlight the potential of erucic acid as a safe and effective candidate for preventing breast cancer and for developing adjunct therapies.