Comparative characterisation of an ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (CD73) in non‐tumoral MCF10‐A breast cells and triple‐negative MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells

Ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (CD73) hydrolyses 5′AMP to adenosine and inorganic phosphate. Breast cancer cells (MDA‐MB‐231) express high CD73 levels, and this enzyme has been found to play a tumour‐promoting role in breast cancer. However, no studies have sought to investigate whether CD73 has differential affinity or substrate preferences between noncancerous and cancerous breast cells. In the present study, we aimed to biochemically characterise ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase in breast cancer cell lines and assess whether its catalytic function and tumour progression are correlated in breast cancer cells. The results showed that compared to nontumoral breast MCF‐10A cells, triple‐negative breast cancer MDA‐MB‐231 cells had a higher ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase expression level and enzymatic activity. Although ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase activity in the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line showed no selectivity among monophosphorylated substrates, 5′AMP was preferred by the MCF‐10A cell line. Compared to the MCF‐10A cell line, the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line has better hydrolytic ability, lower substrate affinity, and high inhibitory potential after treatment with a specific CD73 inhibitor α,β‑methylene ADP (APCP). Therefore, we demonstrated that a specific inhibitor of the ecto‐5‐nucleotidase significantly reduced the migratory and invasive capacity of MDA‐MB‐231 cells, suggesting that ecto‐5‐nucleotidase activity might play an important role in metastatic progression.