In vitro effects of 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate on cell growth, morphology and cell cycle dynamics in the MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell line

in the search for new and improved anticancer therapies, researchers have identified several potentially useful compounds. one of these agents is 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate (2me-bm), a sulphamoylated derivative of 2-methoxyestradiol. the objective of this study was to evaluate 2me-bm's in vitro efficacy as antiproliferative agent in the mcf-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell line. light- and fluorescent microscopy showed decreased cell density, increased apoptotic characteristics and significant ultrastructural aberrations indicative of autophagic cell death after 24 hours of exposure at a concentration of 0.4μm. in addition, mitotic indices revealed that 2me-bm induces a g2m block. the latter was confirmed by flow cytometric analyses where increased sub-g1 and g2/m fractions, as well as an increase in cyclin b1 levels were observed. further in vitro research into the mechanism of this potentially useful anticancer compound is thus warranted.