Determining the effects of SGLT2 inhibitor on breast cancer cell migration and clonogenicity – a pilot study

Breast cancer remains one of the most diagnosed and lethal cancers, with increased incidence in developing countries. Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, is an effective and well-tolerated antidiabetic drug for managing and treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, it can reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular causes and hospitalizations for heart failure. Recent data indicate that empagliflozin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects mediated by modulating various signaling pathways. Molecular and cellular analysis revealed that SGLT2 is expressed in different types of cancer, including breast, cervical, and lung. We analyzed the potential anticancer activities of empagliflozin in the 4T1 breast cancer cell line. To assess the effect of the SGLT2 inhibitor on the migration and clonogenicity of cancer cells, we used the wound healing assay and the colony formation assay. The acquired data showed some trends; however, no significant results were obtained.