Blocking Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8 Signaling Inhibits Cell Viability, Colony-forming Activity, and Cell Migration in Human Triple-negative Breast Cancer and Pancreatic Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND/AIM: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) play important roles in the progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This is the first experiment to combine small molecules targeting these two signaling pathways to treat TNBC and PDAC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell viability, colony formation and cell migration assays were conducted when TNBC or PDAC cells were treated with bazedoxifene (targeting IL-6) or reparixin/SCH527123 (targeting IL-8) or their combination. RESULTS: The combined treatment had a more potent inhibition of cell viability, colony formation and cell migration than monotherapy in TNBC and PDAC cells. The results also showed that the combination of bazedoxifene with SCH527123 seemed to be more effective than that with reparixin in inhibiting cell viability and colony formation of TNBC. CONCLUSION: Novel drug combinations of bazedoxifene and reparixin, as well as bazedoxifene and SCH527123 may provide more effective treatments for TNBC and PDAC.