To investigate the effect of aspirin on the invasion and migration of breast cancer SKBR3 cells.

MTT assay was used to measure the inhibitory effect of aspirin(2.5、5.0、10.0、20.0、40.0 mmol/L) and DMSO (as control) on growth of SKBR3 cells. SKBR3 cells were cultured and divided into three groups, treated by 2.5 mmol/L, 10.0 mmol/L aspirin and DMSO (as control) respectively. Transwell migration assay and scratch assay were used to measure the invasion and migration ability of cells. All experiments were repeated three times. The results in the Transwell migration assay and scratch assay were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and pairwise comparison was conducted by LSD method.

MTT results showed that with the increase of aspirin concentration, growth inhibition of SKBR3 cells was increased significantly, with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 7.91 mmol/L. Transwell migration assay showed that the optical density at the wavelength of 570 nm was 2.232±0.054 in control group, 1.648±0.069 in 2.5 mmol/L aspirin group and 0.372±0.019 in 10.0 mmol/L aspirin group, respectively, indicating a significant difference in the invasion ability among groups (F=338.1, P<0.001). Compared with control group, the invasion ability was significantly inhibited in 2.5 mmol/L and 10.0 mmol/L aspirin groups (both P<0.001). The scratch assay showed that the migration healing rate at 24 h was (69.78±2.87)% in control group, (50.16±3.10)% in 2.5 mmol/L aspirin group and (16.08±2.10)% in 10.0 mg/L aspirin group, suggesting a significant difference in migration ability among groups (F=100.8, P<0.001). Compared with control group, the migration ability of cells in 2.5 mmol/L and 10.0 mmol/L aspirin groups was significantly inhibited, respectively (both P<0.050).

Aspirin can inhibit the invasion and migration ability of breast cancer SKBR3 cells.