The inhibitor of the redox activity of APE1/REF-1, APX2009, reduces the malignant phenotype of breast cancer cells

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox factor-1 (APE1/REF-1) is a multifunctional protein that plays a key role in cellular signaling pathways, including DNA repair and redox regulation. APE1/REF-1 has gained attention as a potential target for cancer therapy, with its involvement in breast cancer models offering new avenues for treatment strategies. APX2009, a selective redox inhibitor of APE1/REF-1, has not been previously studied for its anticancer effects in breast cancer cells. In this study, we examined the impact of APX2009 on the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. The cell lines were cultured, and assays such as WST1 and colony formation were conducted to assess cell proliferation. Additionally, Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD and LDH-Glo™ assays were used to evaluate cell death. We also performed wound healing and Matrigel transwell assays to investigate the effects of APX2009 on cellular migration and invasion. Our results showed that APX2009 treatment reduced the proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of breast cancer cells and induced apoptosis in both cell lines. This study is the first to demonstrate the apoptotic effects of APX2009 in breast cancer cells, suggesting that APX2009 could be a promising anticancer agent for breast cancer therapy.