Comparison of the simultaneous treatment effects of sorafenib and sunitinib on viability and migration of breast (MDA-MB-231) and pancreatic (Panc1) cancer cell lines

Background and Aim: Sorafenib and sunitinib are tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors commonly used in chemotherapy. This study aimed to compare the effects of simultaneous treatment with these two anti-tumor drugs on breast (MDA-MB-231) and pancreatic (Panc1) cancer cell lines. Methods: In this experimental study, breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and pancreatic cancer (Panc1) cell lines were cultured. The cells were then treated simultaneously with sorafenib and sunitinib for 48 hours. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, while cell migration was evaluated using the Scratch assay. Results: The IC50 values for both anticancer drugs, sorafenib and sunitinib, were higher in the pancreatic cell line (Panc1) compared to the breast cell line (MDA-MB-231). The simultaneous treatment with these two drugs was more effective in reducing the viability and migration of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) than in pancreatic cancer cells (Panc1). Furthermore, morphological changes indicative of cancer cell damage were observed more frequently in the breast cell line (MDA-MB-231) following simultaneous treatment with both drugs. Conclusion: The simultaneous treatment with the tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors sorafenib and sunitinib was more effective in inhibiting the viability and migration of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). This increased effectiveness may be attributed to the higher expression of tyrosine kinase receptors in breast cancer. However, further experiments are necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects.