Abstract
Background/Aim: Triple negative cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer that is highly aggressive, with poor prognosis and responds differently to treatments. This study investigated the role of vorinostat and indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on regulating critical receptors that are not normally expressed in TNBC. Materials and Methods: Using real-time PCR, immunostaining, and western blots, the re-expression of estrogen receptor α (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) receptors was examined in four different TNBC cell types. Results: ERα was re-expressed in three subtypes using vorinostat and I3C. Re-expression of the PR by vorinostat was also detected. Neither vorinostat nor I3C resulted in re-expression of the HER2 receptor. A significant decrease in growth and sensitivity to tamoxifen was also noted. Conclusion: The results of this study show that vorinostat and I3C modulate the re-expression of critical receptors in certain subtypes of TNBC through several pathways and these effects can be influenced by the molecular profiles of TNBCs.
Footnotes
This article is freely accessible online.
Disclaimer: The views presented in this manuscript do not necessarily reflect those of the US Food and Drug Administration.
Funding
This study was funded to Beverly Lyn-Cook through a grant from the FDA-Office of Women's Health.
- Received March 10, 2020.
- Revision received June 15, 2020.
- Accepted June 17, 2020.
- Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved