Effect of famotidine on the activity of breast cancer cells by regulating the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway

SUN Xiaoni; HOU Haitao

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2025.03.007

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of famotidine on the activity of breast cancer cells by regulating the Ras homolog gene(Rho)A/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase(ROCK)signaling pathway.Methods Breast cancer cell line MCF7 was induced with blank control,famotidine,famotidine+Naciclassine(RhoA activator),and Y27632 group(RhoA inhibitor).Colony formation ability was detected by cell colony assay.Migration and invasion were detected by Transwell assay.Apoptotic rate was measured by flow cytometry.Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was applied to detect the mRNA levels of RhoA and ROCK.Western blot was applied to detect the protein expressions of NLRP3,caspase-1,GSDMD,Ki-67,MMP-9,RhoA,and ROCK.Results Compared with the control group,the clone formation rate,cell migration and invasion numbers,RhoA and ROCK gene expression levels,and Ki-67,MMP-9,RhoA and ROCK protein expression levels of MCF7 cells in the Famotidine group,famotidine+Naciclassine group and Y27632 group were greatly reduced,the apoptosis rate,NLRP3,caspase-1,and GSDMD protein expression levels were greatly increased(P＜0.05);Compared with Famotidine group,MCF7 cell clonal formation rate,number of cell migration and invasion,RhoA and ROCK gene expression levels,Ki-67,MMP-9,RhoA and ROCK protein expression levels were significantly decreased in Famotidine+Naciclasine group.The apoptosis rate,NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD protein expression levels were significantly increased(P＜0.05).There was no statistical significance in MCF7 cells in Y27632 group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Famotidine may inhibit the proliferation,migration and invasion of MCF7 cells and promote cell pyroptosis by blocking the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway,thus inhibiting the activity of breast cancer cells.