Amirhosein Kefayat - Department of Oncology, Cancer Prevention Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Mohadeseh Yuosefzadeh - Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Parvin Goli - Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Alireza Babayi - Department of Biology, Payame Noor Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran
Abbas Rezaei - Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Nafiseh Esmaeil - Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Background: Several studies have reported the anticancer effect of phycocyanin C, a natural extract isolated from the algae Arthrospira platensis. However, its therapeutic effects on the growth of breast cancer and its metastasis have not been determined yet. Method: In this case-control study, we employed phycocyanin C for the treatment of ۴T۱ breast tumor as an applicable experimental animal model for human mammary cancer and metastasis. BALB/c mice were injected subcutaneously (s.c) into the ۴th abdominal mammary fat pad with ۱×۱۰۶ ۴T۱ cells. We randomly divided the mice into two groups; one group of mice were injected with PBS as the control, and the other group was intraperitoneally injected with phycocyanin C (۸۰ mg/kg daily for ۲۰ days). Tumor growth and metastasis were assessed in both groups. Results: Phycocyanin C significantly inhibited ۴T۱ breast tumors growth (P<۰.۰۵). The mean tumors volumes at the control group were ۲.۷۳ times higher than those of the treatment group. In addition, phycocyanin C treatment could significantly inhibit the formation of metastasis colonies at vital organs like spleen, liver, and lung. Moreover, the survival rate of the tumor-bearing mice increased after about ۲۲ days by phycocyanin C treatment in comparison with the control. Conclusion: This is the first report demonstrating the anticancer effects of phycocyanin C on ۴T۱ breast tumor in vivo. Overall, our findings provided convincing evidence for the application of phycocyanin C as an anticancer therapeutic agent.

Phycocyanin C, Breast Neoplasm, Metastasis