The Antiproliferative and Pro-apoptotic Role of 2-aminoethyl dihydrogen Phosphate in Triple-negative Breast Tumor Cells

Antineoplastic phospholipids are a new class of antitumor agents. These molecules interact with the plasma membrane, changing numerous pathways that induce cell death, with high selectivity for cancer cells. A representative of this class of antineoplastic agents is 2-aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate (2-AEH2P). It is present in high intracellular concentrations in various tissues and organelles with antitumor, antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic action. Therefore, 4T1 triple-negative tumor cells were treated in different concentrations in order to assess the cytotoxic potential and its effects on the modulation of cell death pathways in association with the chemotherapeutic drug Paclitaxel. 2-AEH2P promoted cytotoxicity in tumor cells and significant morphological changes, however, it did not cause these effects in normal cells. There was positive regulation of proteins involved in the intrinsic pathway of cell death by apoptosis and regulation of the phases of cell cycle progression. Furthermore, structural and distribution changes in mitochondria, as well as decreased cell density and regression of the cytoskeleton were observed. The 2-AEH2P demonstrated a modulatory potential of apoptotic pathways inducing cell death, being a new compound with antitumor properties.