Holothuria scabra Extract Improves Histopathological Features and Inhibits Cancer Growth Through IL-6 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways in Breast Cancer Mice Model

The high incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer indicates that managing this disease is still problematic. A number of studies have shown that sea cucumbers, marine invertebrates, contain anticancer compounds. This study aimed to determine the effects of Holothuria scabra (sea cucumber) methanol extract on histopathological features, interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) expression in the breast cancer mice model. The body of H. scabra without internal organs was extracted with methanol. Thirty female Mus musculus C57BL6 mice were randomly divided into a control group, a breast cancer mice model  group, and three treatment groups, which were breast cancer mice models administered with three various doses H. scabra methanol extract (0.33 (T1); 0.66 (T2); and 0.99 g/Kg BW (T3)) for 12 weeks. The breast cancer mice model was treated with a high-fat diet and 1 mg/kg BW 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene subcutaneous injection into one of the breasts. Examination of IL-6 concentration was conducted by ELISA and NF-κB gene expression by qRT-PCR. The results showed an improvement in histopathological features as revealed by the lower Nottingham scores in the T2 (5.17±0.75) and T3 groups (3.00±0.89) compared to positive control group 7.00±1.26 (p<0.05). Holothuria scabra methanol extract reduced IL-6 concentration in treatment groups dose-dependently and was significantly lower than the positive control  group (p<0.01). The T2 and T3 groups showed significantly lower NF-κB expression than the positive control  group (p<0.05). The sea cucumber Holothuria scabra methanol extract is a therapeutic candidate for breast cancer by suppressing IL-6 concentration and NF-κB gene expression.