Evaluation of Camptothecin Through Computational and Experimental Approaches Targeting Membrane Receptors on Breast Cancer Cells for Potential Therapeutic Applications.

Breast cancer remains among the leading causes of incidence and mortality worldwide. Consequently, identifying new treatments and strategies is of critical importance. Evidence indicates that camptothecin and its derivatives may exert anticancer effects in various cancer cell lines, including colon, lung, and ovarian cancers. However, their effects in breast cancer are not yet fully understood. Prior theoretical studies employing docking and molecular dynamics suggest that camptothecin could bind to the HER2 and EGFR receptors, which are overexpressed in breast cancer cells. Investigating interactions between novel molecules with affinity for membrane receptors overexpressed in breast cancer is important for developing personalized therapies and for advancing strategies to selectively target nanomaterials to these cells for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This study evaluated the in silico and in vitro effects of camptothecin on the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Our results show significant inhibition of proliferation and reduced migration at 24, 48, and 72 h in both cell lines. The theoretical analysis indicates high affinity of camptothecin for receptors overexpressed in breast cancer compared with current treatments.