Figure 4: Simvastatin combined with tamoxifen induces apoptosis of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.

(A,B,C,D) Four groups of MCF7 TamR and T47D TamR cells were cultured with solvent as a control, 4-OH-tamoxifen (5 μM), simvastatin (20 μM), or 4-OH-tamoxifen (5 μM) plus simvastatin (20 μM). After treatment for 24 h (C) or 72 h (D), the cells were digested and incubated with PE Annexin V and 7-AAD, and apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. (E) Four groups of MCF7 TamR and T47D TamR cells were cultured as described above. After treatment for 24 h, the cells were lysed, and a western blot was performed. n = 3, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ****p < 0.0001.