Abstract
Breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a localized form of breast cancer that can progress to invasive breast cancer. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) is a bioactive compound from Allium vegetables reported to induce anticancer effects in several cancer models. The objective of this study was to characterize DATS-induced apoptosis in breast DCIS and minimally invasive breast cancer cells. Breast DCIS cells SUM 102PT (ductal carcinoma in situ with areas of micro-invasion) and SUM 225CWN (chest wall recurrence of ductal carcinoma in situ) were used in this study. DATS induced a dose-dependent reduction in the colony formation ability of breast DCIS cells. DATS inhibited DCIS cell growth by inducing apoptosis as shown by a dose-dependent increase in cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragmentation. Induction of apoptosis was more pronounced in SUM 102PT cells than in SUM 225CWN cells at similar concentrations of DATS. DATS-induced apoptosis was characterized by a dose-dependent increase in cleaved poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP). DATS treatment resulted in an increase in the cytochrome c levels and cleavage of caspases 3, 7, and 9. This study shows that DATS inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in breast DCIS derived and minimally invasive breast cancer cells, and supports further investigation of DATS as a potential chemopreventive agent for DCIS.