Relationship between proliferation and percentage displacement in MCF-7 breast cancer cells stimulated with AlCl3 used in women's antiperspirants.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, with more than 2.3 million new cases in 2022. Among the environmental factors potentially involved, aluminum (Al3+) stands out; this metal is present in various cosmetic products and acts as a metalloestrogen by binding to estrogen receptors (ER) and modulating estrogen-dependent expression. In particular, its widespread use as an active ingredient in antiperspirant formulations results in direct and continuous skin exposure in the underarm region, particularly close to the breast tissue. Given the well-established association between estrogen exposure and the development of breast cancer, aluminum could promote abnormal cell proliferation and increase oncogenic risk. However, information on its direct effects on tumor processes remains limited. Therefore, in this study, the effect of AlCl3 on proliferation and migration in MCF-7 breast cancer cells was evaluated using viability (MTT), clonogenic, and cell wound healing assays. The results showed that AlCl3 had an IC50 of 12 mM in the MTT assay. At this concentration, colony formation in the clonogenic assay increased significantly (p < 0.05), indicating a long-term proliferative effect. However, it did not stimulate cell migration capacity in the wound healing assay. These results suggest that aluminum has a specific proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells without altering their migratory capacity under these experimental conditions, providing relevant evidence for evaluating its involvement in the early stages of breast cancer progression and for its regulation in everyday products, such as women's antiperspirants.