Modulation of protein expression levels and DNA methylation status of breast cancer metastasis genes by anthracycline-based chemotherapy and the demethylating agent decitabine.

Abstract

Epigenetic drugs are promising add-ons to cancer treatment; still, adverse effects concerning tumour promotion have been reported occasionally. In this in vitro study, we investigated the effect of combination treatment of decitabine with anthracycline-based chemotherapy [5-fluorouracil plus epirubicine plus cyclophosphamide (FEC)] on viability and metastatic activity of breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 (estrogen receptor-negative) and MCF-7 (estrogen receptor-positive). The effect of decitabine and its combined treatment with FEC on viability of both cancer cell lines was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) cell survival assays. DNA methylation specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Methylight®) was employed to document the methylation status of the metastasis-relevant urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-I (PAI-1) genes. Additionally, protein expression levels of uPA and PAI-1 were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Invasion capacity of cells was assayed using Matrigel® invasion assay. Decitabine lowered the viability of MCF-7 cells, although MDA-MB-231 cells were not affected. Decitabine did not augment FEC-mediated cytotoxicity in both cell lines. In MCF-7 cells, methylation of the uPA and PAI-1 gene promoter was significantly reduced by decitabine or decitabine plus FEC. Protein levels of uPA and PAI-1 were induced by all treatments. Decitabine significantly induced the invasion capacity of MCF-7 cells, whereas all of the drugs resulted in decreased invasion capacity of MDA-MB-231. Our results suggest differential effects of single-dose decitabine and its combination with FEC on the metastatic capacity and survival of breast cancer cell lines endowed with different metastatic behaviour.

• Authors: Ferda Ari, Rudolf Napieralski, Engin Ulukaya, Egemen Dere, Christoph Colling, Katja Honert, Achim Krüger, Marion Kiechle, Manfred Schmitt
• Journal: Cell biochemistry and function (Cell Biochem Funct) Vol. 29 Issue 8 Pg. 651-9 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1099-0844 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21887697 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anthracyclines
• Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
• Decitabine
• Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
• Azacitidine

Topics

• Anthracyclines (pharmacology)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (pharmacology)
• Azacitidine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• DNA Methylation (drug effects)
• Decitabine
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
• Humans
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 (genetics, metabolism)
• Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator (genetics, metabolism)