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Background and Aim This study, alongside clinical specimens, investigated the inhibitory effect of konjac petroleum ether extract on the migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells via the OLFML2A gene, with the objective of elucidating the potential efficacy and mechanism of action of konjac petroleum ether extract. Experimental Procedure Histopathological examination of OLFML2A was performed on TNBC tumor specimens (n = 8). mRNA and protein levels of OLFML2A and EMT markers ( E-cadherin , N-cadherin , vimentin , elastin ) were analyzed via qPCR and Western blot. OLFML2A -knockout MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with gradient concentrations of konjac petroleum ether extract. Cell migration (wound healing assay), adhesion, and invasion (Transwell assay) were evaluated, and EMT marker expression was further examined using qPCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence (n = 3). Results In TNBC patients with high OLFML2A expression, reduced E-cadherin and increased N-cadherin , vimentin , and elastin were observed, while low OLFML2A cases exhibited no significant EMT changes. In MDA-MB-231 cells, OLFML2A knockdown significantly reduced migration and invasion while upregulating E-cadherin and downregulating mesenchymal markers, phenocopying the effects of konjac petroleum ether extract treatment. Konjac extract inhibited cell proliferation with an IC 50 of 220 μg/mL at 48 h. The extract inhibited migration and invasion in a dose-dependent manner, with significant effects observed at 200 μg/mL, though potential contributions from cytotoxicity at 300 μg/mL cannot be entirely excluded. Conclusion The research findings suggest that konjac petroleum ether extract inhibits TNBC cells migration and invasion by modulating OLFML2A to inhibit EMT. These findings highlight its potential as a candidate for further investigation for preventing TNBC metastasis, though the contribution of cytotoxicity at higher concentrations warrants further investigation.
Chen et al. (Fri,) studied this question.