# A130 Expression of MUC1 and MUC1/Y in MCF7 cell line can be downregulated by a traditional Chinese medicine kanglaite (KLT). Lixin Zhang, Liya Sun and Chunhai Li, Dept. of Tumor Molecular Biology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences & Beijing North Taiping Hospital, Beijing, China. MUC1 mucin has close relation with carciniogenesis and been used as a tumor marker for diagnosis as well as an ideal target for tumor immunotherapy. Its isoform, MUC1/Y, which has a tumor-specific expression in breast and ovarian cancers, is a potential candidate for tumor diagnosis and biotherapy. Kanglaite (KLT) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which shows anti-tumor effect and has been put into clinical use in China. In order to elucidate the possible molecular antitumor mechanism of KLT, three cancer cell lines, MCF7, OVCA3 and KB were selected to test the expression of MUC1 and MUC1/Y pre- and post-treatment of KLT. The mRNA level were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR while MUC1 protein expression was measured by flow cytometry using BC2 McAb. The concentration of KLT used was determined by MTT. The results showed that (1) all the three cell lines express MUC1 and MUC1/Y mRNA; (2) after 15 ì l/ml KLT treatment for 3 days, the MUC1 mRNA level exhibited a three and a half time decrease and the MUC1/Y mRNA was not detected in MCF7, but no significance changes were observed in OVCA3 and KB ; (3) after 10 ì l/ml KLT treatment for 7 days, the MUC1 protein expression dropped from 91% to 53.1% in MCF7. The results indicated that KLT can downregulate the MUC1 and MUC1/Y expression in breast cancer cell line MCF7 that may play an important role in the antitumor activity of KLT. Press Release, Institute of Science in Society, UK, 4/03 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.