The Combined Effect of Vulpinic Acid and Doxorubicin in Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells

Breast cancer is a major global health problem that imposes a significant social and economic burden on individuals and societies. Chemotherapy, a common treatment approach, often leads to resistance and unwanted side effects, especially in the advanced stages of the disease. This has led to a search for more effective and less toxic anticancer agents. Lichens, which are associations of fungi and algae, are gaining attention for their potential in cancer therapy. Lichens are rich sources of secondary metabolites with diverse biological effects, including anti-tumor properties. In this study, we summarise the combined effects of vulpinic acid (VA), a lichen acid, with doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic drug, on breast cancer MCF-7 cells. The results of the XTT assay and subsequent Compsyn analysis showed that VA and doxorubicin (Dox), a chemotherapeutic drug, alone exhibited potent anti-proliferative effects in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and interestingly, when used in combination, they produced an antagonistic effect in the same cancer line. These results provide the first example of a study to show what effect the combination of VA and Dox will have on other breast cancer cell lines.