Combined treatment with silver graphene quantum dot, radiation, and 17-AAG induces anticancer effects in breast cancer cells.

We aimed to investigate the possible anticancer effects of radiation in combination with 17-allylamino-17-demethoxy geldanamycin (17-AAG) and silver graphene quantum dot (SQD) in breast cancer (BC) cells. MCF-7 BC cells treated with, or without, different concentrations of 17-AAG and synthesized SQD and cellular viability detected. The growth inhibitory effects of low concentrations of 17-AAG with minimally toxic concentration of SQD in combination with 2 Gy of X-ray radiation were examined. The apoptosis induction assessed by acridine orange/ethedium bromide staining. Likewise, the levels of lactate, hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), nitric oxide (NO) were evaluated. The relative gene expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio was determined. Moreover, the protein expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was assessed by western blot analysis. Treatment with low concentrations of 17-AAG and SQD at a minimally toxic concentration promoted inhibition of BC cell growth and induced apoptosis. In addition, significant reduction in cell viability was seen in triple combination versus all double and single treatments. Indeed 17-AAG and SQD in combined with radiation significantly increased the H2 O2 and NO versus single and double treated cases. In addition, triple combination treatment showed decreased lactate level in compared tomonotherapies. EGFR protein expression levels were found to decreased in all double and triple combined cases versus single treatments. Additionally, in double and triple treatments, Bax/Bcl2 ratio were higher in compared to single treatments. Treatment with low concentrations of 17-AAG and SQD at a minimally toxic concentration tends to induce anticancer effects and increase the radiation effects when applied with 2 Gy of radiation versus radiation monotherapy.