biostudies-literatureWang LHNIAAA NIH HHS36486https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5098232biostudies-literatureUnknown6SL4, a chalcone-based compound, has been shown to retard tumor invasion and angiogenesis by suppressing HIF1 activity and to induce apoptosis by promoting ROS release. Here, we report that SL4 is able to inhibit the proliferation of different types of breast cancer cell in vitro and in vivo by inducing G₂/M cell cycle arrest. Our results showed that SL4 exhibited strong anti-proliferative activity in several human breast cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values lower than 1.3 μM. Further studies indicated that SL4 induced G₂/M arrest in these cell lines. Mechanistically, SL4 reduces the expression of cyclin A2 and cdc25C and decreases the activity of the cdc2/cyclin B1 complex. Notably, SL4 treatment resulted in an obvious increase in p21 mRNA and protein levelsScientific reportsAnti-tumor activity of SL4 against breast cancer cells: induction of G₂/M arrest through modulation of the MAPK-dependent p21 signaling pathway.PMC5098232R21 AA020305Liu XYang JYCui LJZhang JYJiang XRGuo WWang LHWu CFChen GLLi HHLi MfalseAnti-tumor activity of SL4 against breast cancer cells: induction of G₂/M arrest through modulation of the MAPK-dependent p21 signaling pathway.SL4, a chalcone-based compound, has been shown to retard tumor invasion and angiogenesis by suppressing HIF1 activity and to induce apoptosis by promoting ROS release. Here, we report that SL4 is able to inhibit the proliferation of different types of breast cancer cell in vitro and in vivo by inducing G₂/M cell cycle arrest. Our results showed that SL4 exhibited strong anti-proliferative activity in several human breast cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values lower than 1.3 μM. Further studies indicated that SL4 induced G₂/M arrest in these cell lines. Mechanistically, SL4 reduces the expression of cyclin A2 and cdc25C and decreases the activity of the cdc2/cyclin B1 complex. Notably, SL4 treatment resulted in an obvious increase in p21 mRNA and protein levels2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Nov2025-06-01T12:19:32.881Z2019-03-27T02:28:24ZS-EPMC50982322781934410.1038/srep36486