The sphingolipid ceramide is a pro apoptotic molecule of ceramide metabolic pathway and is hydrolyzed
to proliferative metabolite, sphingosine 1 phosphate by the action of acid ceramidase. Being upregulated
in the tumors of breast, acid ceramidase acts as a potential target for breast cancer therapy. We aimed at
targeting this enzyme with a small molecule acid ceramidase inhibitor, Ceranib 2 in human breast cancer
cell lines MCF 7 and MDA MB 231. Ceranib 2 effectively inhibited the growth of both the cell lines in dose
and time dependant manner. Morphological apoptotic hallmarks such as chromatin condensation,
fragmented chromatin were observed in AO/EtBr staining. Moreover, ladder pattern of fragmented DNA
observed in DNA gel electrophoresis proved the apoptotic activity of Ceranib 2 in breast cancer cell lines.
The apoptotic events were associated with significant increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic genes
(Bad, Bax and Bid) and down regulation of anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl 2). Interestingly, increase in sub G1
population of cell cycle phase analysis and elevated Annexin V positive cells after Ceranib 2 treatment
substantiated its apoptotic activity in MCF 7 and MDA MB 231 cell lines. Thus, we report Ceranib 2 as a
potent therapeutic agent against both ERþ and ER breast cancer cell lines.