Polygonatum odoratum lectin induces apoptosis and autophagy via targeting EGFR-mediated Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Polygonatum odoratum lectin (POL), a mannose-binding GNA-related lectin, has been reported to display remarkable anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities toward a variety of cancer cells; however, the precise molecular mechanisms by which POL induces cancer cell death are still elusive. In the current study, we found that POL could induce both apoptosis and autophagy in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Subsequently, we found that POL induced MCF-7 cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Additionally, we also found that POL induces MCF-7 cell apoptosis via EGFR-mediated Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway, suggesting that POL may be a potential EGFR inhibitor. Finally, we used proteomics analyses for exploring more possible POL-induced pathways with EGFR, Ras, Raf, MEK and ERK, some of which were consistent with our in silico network prediction. Taken together, these results demonstrate that POL induces MCF-7 cell apoptosis and autophagy via targeting EGFR-mediated Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway, which would provide a new clue for exploiting POL as a potential anti-neoplastic drug for future cancer therapy.     

Benzo[b]furan derivatives induces apoptosis by targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in human breast cancer cells

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway plays a key regulatory function in cell survival, proliferation, migration, metabolism and apoptosis. Aberrant activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is found in many types of cancer and thus plays a major role in breast cancer cell proliferation. In our previous studies, benzo[b]furan derivatives were evaluated for their anticancer activity and the lead compounds identified were 26 and 36. These observations prompted us to investigate the molecular mechanism and apoptotic pathway of these lead molecules against breast cancer cells. Benzo[b]furan derivatives (26 and 36) were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA MB-231. These compounds (26 and 36) have shown potent efficiency against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) with IC₅₀ values 0.057 and 0.051 μM respectively. Cell cycle analysis revealed that these compounds induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in MCF-7 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that these compounds inhibit the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and induced mitochondrial mediated apoptosis in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7).     

RNA甲基化酶WTAP对乳腺癌MCF-7和耐阿霉素MCF-7/ADR细胞迁移的影响

为了深入探讨乳腺癌治疗耐药的发生机制并寻找乳腺癌治疗耐药的潜在治疗手段,我们以乳腺癌MCF-7和耐阿霉素MCF-7/ADR细胞为研究对象,研究RNA甲基化酶WTAP对其迁移的影响。MTT试验发现阿霉素对MCF-7细胞活力的抑制作用大于对MCF-7/ADR细胞的抑制作用。qPCR和western-blot试验发现WTAP在耐阿霉素细胞MCF-7/ADR中高表达,同时transwell试验发现在MCF-7细胞中增加WTAP的表达对MCF-7细胞的迁移没有影响,而在MCF-7/ADR细胞中敲低WTAP的表达会抑制MCF-7/ADR细胞的迁移。western-blot试验进一步证明了这一作用是通过抑制上皮间质转化(EMT)来发挥的。这一发现有助于为乳腺癌的临床治疗提供新的理论依据并为乳腺癌的治疗提供新的策略。     

In vitro anti-proliferative activities of ellagic acid

The potential cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activities of ellagic acid (a naturally occurring bioactive compound in berries, grapes, and nuts) was evaluated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), normal human lung fibroblast cells HEL 299, Caco-2 colon, MCF-7 breast, Hs 578T breast, and DU 145 human prostatic cancer cells. Ellagic acid at concentration in the range 10-100 micromol/L did not affect the viability of normal fibroblast cells during a 24-hour incubation. An increase in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence of approximately 18-21% was observed in normal cells incubated with ellagic acid. In contrast, ellagic acid at 1-100 micromol/L dose-dependently inhibited HUVEC tube formation and proliferation on a reconstituted extracellular matrix and showed strong anti-proliferative activity against the colon, breast, and prostatic cancer cell lines investigated. The most sensitive cells were the Caco-2, and the most resistant were the breast cancer cells. Ellagic acid induced cancer cell death by apoptosis as shown by the microscopic examination of cell gross morphology. Ellagic acid induced reduced cancer cell viability as shown by decreased ATP levels of the cancer cells. After 24 hours incubation of 100 micromol/L of ellagic acid with Caco-2, MCF-7, Hs 578T, and DU 145 cancer cells, ellagic acid suppressed fetal bovine serum (FBS) stimulation of cell migration. The apoptosis induction was accompanied by a decreased in the levels of pro-matrix metalloproteinase-2 (pro-MMP-2 or gelatinase A), pro-matrix metalloproteinase-9 (pro-MMP-9 or gelatinase B), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF(165)) in conditioned media. The results suggest that ellagic acid expressed a selective cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative activity, and induced apoptosis in Caco-2, MCF-7, Hs 578T, and DU 145 cancer cells without any toxic effect on the viability of normal human lung fibroblast cells. It was also observed that the mechanism of apoptosis induction in ellagic acid-treated cancer cells was associated with decreased ATP production, which is crucial for the viability of cancer cells.     

Adiponectin mediates antiproliferative and apoptotic responses in human MCF7 breast cancer cells

It is well established that obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer and that blood levels of adiponectin, a hormone mainly secreted by white adipocytes, are inversely correlated with the body fat mass. As adiponectin elicits anti-proliferative effects in some cell types, we tested the hypothesis that adiponectin could influence human breast cancer MCF-7 cell growth. Here we show that MCF-7 cells express adiponectin receptors and respond to human recombinant adiponectin by reducing their growth, AMPkinase activation, and p42/p44 MAPkinase inactivation. Further, we demonstrate that the anti-proliferative effect of adiponectin involves activation of cell apoptosis and inhibition of cell cycle. These findings suggest that adiponectin could act in vivo as a paracrine/endocrine growth inhibitor towards mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, adipose adiponectin production being strongly reduced in obesity, this study may help to explain why obesity is a risk factor of developing breast cancers.     

(E)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl)-3-styrylurea inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 cells through G1 cell cycle arrest and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis

Growing interest in the beneficial effects of antioxidants has inspired the synthesis of new phenolic acid phenethyl ureas (PAPUs) with enhanced antioxidant potential. We have previously shown the capacity of one PAPU compound, (E)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl)-3-styrylurea (PAPU1), to induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in melanoma cells. In the present study, we examined the anti-proliferative effects of PAPU compounds on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and determined the molecular mechanisms involved. Treatment with PAPU compounds inhibited predominantly proliferation in these cells, where the PAPU1 was the most efficient form. Flow cytometric analysis showed that PAPU1 blocked cell cycle progression in the G₀/G₁ phase, and reduced the proportion of cells in G₂/M phase. This was related to the inhibition of cell cycle regulatory factors, including cyclin D/E and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2/4, through induction of p21^Cip1. PAPU1 also induced the mitochondrial-mediated and caspase-dependent apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. This was evidenced by cellular changes in the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax, loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, and caspase-9 activation. Collectively, our results suggest that G₁ cell cycle regulatory proteins and mitochondrial pathways are the crucial targets of PAPU1 in the chemoprevention of breast cancer cells.     

腺病毒载体AdING4 对MCF-7乳腺癌细胞的增殖抑制及化疗增敏作用

目的:研究腺病毒载体AdING4对人MCF-7乳腺癌细胞的生长抑制及化疗增敏作用。方法:将搭载有ING-4基因的重组腺病毒载体AdING4感染人MCF-7乳腺癌细胞,用荧光显微镜观察感染后的MCF-7细胞形态学变化;RT-PCR和Western-Blot法检测ING-4基因在MCF-7细胞中的转录和表达;RT-PCR法检测凋亡相关基因在MCF-7细胞中的表达;CCK法测定Ad-ING4感染MCF-7乳腺癌细胞后所发挥的细胞增殖抑制作用。流式细胞技术检测ING-4对MCF-7乳腺癌细胞的促凋亡作用。CCK-8法分别测定病毒感染前后的MCF-7乳腺癌细胞的药物半数抑制浓度IC50,并观察Ad-ING4与化疗药物合用后对MCF-7细胞增殖抑制和化疗增敏现象。结果:MCF-7细胞在转染ING-4基因后,明显出现变圆、脱落、皱缩、聚集等现象;外源性ING-4基因在MCF-7细胞中获得成功表达;外源性ING-4基因作用下MCF-7细胞的增殖受到了明显抑制,凋亡率有所升高,凋亡相关基因Bax的表达水平明显上调,Bcl-2、Survivin的表达水平明显下调。ING-4基因感染MCF-7细胞后,使MCF-7细胞对相关化疗药物的敏感度更高;ING-4基因与化疗药物合用后对MCF-7细胞的增殖抑制作用,较之单用化疗药物更为明显。结论:MCF-7细胞在转染ING4基因后其增殖受到了明显抑制并更易凋亡,该现象可能是通过改变Bax,Bcl-2及Survivin表达水平来实现的,且对化疗药物的敏感性更高。     

Phenol red reduces ROSC mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human MCF-7 cells

We reported recently that roscovitine (ROSC), a selective cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor, arrested human MCF-7 breast cancer cells in G2 phase of the cell cycle and concomitantly induced apoptosis. On the other hand, ROSC-induced G1 arrest observed by another group has not been accompanied by apoptosis. Therefore, we decided to prove to which extent components of tissue culture media could affect the primary action of ROSC. For this purpose we compared the efficacy of the ROSC treatment on MCF-7 cells cultivated in medium with and without phenol red. The kinetics of MCF-7 cell proliferation strongly depended on the presence of phenol red that has been recognized previously as a weak estrogen. Exposure of MCF-7 cells cultivated in phenol red-deprived medium to ROSC resulted in a strong G2 arrest and apoptosis. However, the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic action of ROSC was strongly diminished in cells maintained in medium containing phenol red. The ratio of the G2 cell population after 12 h ROSC was reduced by approximately 20% in the latter and correlated with the lack of CDK2 inactivation. Moreover, the kinetics of ROSC-induced apoptosis was delayed in the presence of phenol red. These results clearly evidence that the efficacy of the therapy of ER-positive breast cancers by CDK inhibitors is diminished in the presence of estrogen-mimicking compounds and indicate that phytoestrogens and xenoestrogens could interfere with the therapy. Therefore, the exposure of cancer patients to the estrogen mimics should be avoided at least during chemotherapy by CDK inhibitors.     

Down-regulation of TSG101 by small interfering RNA inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells through the MAPK/ERK signal pathway

We designed to investigate the effects of down-regulating the tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) on the proliferation and apoptosis of the human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line, and the role of the MAPK/ERK signal pathway in this process. The siRNA against TSG101 was transfected into the breast cancer MCF-7 cell line using Lipofectamine 2000. After TSG101 knockdown, the proliferation of MCF-7 cells was measured by the MTT assay. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were examined by using flow cytometry while cell migration was measured using a transwell assay. The protein level of p-ERK was further assessed by immunofluorescence and western blotting. Our results are as following, the MCF-7 cells transfected with TSG101 siRNA proliferated significantly slower and exhibited significantly increased rates of apoptosis compared to the control cells. In the TSG101 siRNA transfected cells, the percentage of cells in the G?/G? and S phase of the cell cycle was significantly higher and lower, respectively, compared to the control cells. Moreover, the migration ability of TSG101 siRNA transfected cells was lower than the control groups. Lastly, the level of p-ERK protein in TSG101 siRNA transfected cells was significantly decreased compared with the control cells. In conclusion, TSG101 knockdown in breast cancer cells induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation. The TSG101 depleted cells are arrested at the G?/S transition of the cell cycle. The migration of breast cancer cells is also impaired by TSG101 siRNA. TSG101 may play a biological role through modulation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in breast cancer.     

PTH-related protein enhances MCF-7 breast cancer cell adhesion, migration, and invasion via an intracrine pathway

Breast cancer is the most common carcinoma that metastasizes to the bone. Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), a known stimulator of osteoclastic bone resorption, is a major mediator of the osteolytic process in breast cancer. PTHrP overexpression increases mitogenesis and decreases apoptosis in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. In this study, MCF-7 cells were used as a model system to study the effects of PTHrP on breast cancer cell adhesion, migration, and invasion. Clones of MCF-7 cells were established that overexpress wild-type PTHrP or PTHrP mutated in the nuclear localization sequence (NLS). Wild-type PTHrP-overexpressing cells showed significantly higher laminin adhesion and migration, and Matrigel invasion than empty vector-transfectants or cells overexpressing NLS-mutated PTHrP. Wild-type PTHrP also increased the cell surface expression of the pro-invasive integrins alpha6 and beta4; deletion of the NLS negated these effects. Exogenous PTHrP (1-34), (67-86), (107-139), and (140-173) had no effect on integrin expression, or on cell adhesion, migration, and invasion. These results indicate that PTHrP exerts its effects on cell adhesion, migration, invasion, and integrin expression via an intracrine pathway. PTHrP may play a role in breast cancer metastasis by upregulating proinvasive integrin expression, and controlling PTHrP production in breast cancer may provide therapeutic benefit.     

Synthesis of novel β-carboline based chalcones with high cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cells

A series of novel β-carboline based chalcones was synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines. Among them we found that two of the compounds 7c and 7d, showed marked anti-proliferative activity in a panel of solid tumor cell lines with highest effect in breast cancer. The compounds 7c and 7d showed an IC₅₀ of 2.25 and 3.29 μM, respectively against human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line. Further, the compound 7c markedly induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis in breast cancer cells.     

Inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation with estradiol metabolites is as effective as with tamoxifen.

The anti-estrogenic substance tamoxifen is effective in the adjuvant therapy applied in human breast cancer. Since it partly exhibits estrogenic activity and has serious side-effects, however, pure anti-estrogenic compounds are being sought. In our experimental study, we compared the anti-proliferative effect of estradiol and 13 endogenous estradiol metabolites on human breast cancer cells with the effect of tamoxifen. We used MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231, the well-established estrogen receptor-positive and -negative cell lines. 4-hydroxytamoxifen, the active metabolite of tamoxifen, estradiol and 13 estradiol metabolites were tested in concentrations ranging from 3.1 to 100 microM. Incubation time was 4 days and cell proliferation was measured by means of the ATP chemosensitivity test. 4-hydroxytamoxifen showed an IC50 value of 27 microM and 18 microM in MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 cells, respectively. Estradiol and its metabolites were anti-proliferative in both cell lines. A few A-ring metabolites were more effective in inhibiting cell proliferation than D-ring metabolites and the parent substance 17beta-estradiol. 4-OHE1, 2-MeOE1 and 2-MeOE2 were as effective in both cell lines as tamoxifen. For the first time it has been demonstrated that endogenous estradiol metabolites are equally anti-proliferative as tamoxifen in the context of human breast cancer cells. Since some of these metabolites exhibit no estrogenic activity, they are likely to be valuable in clinical studies of chemoprevention and adjuvant therapy of breast cancer.     

Quercetin Suppresses Twist to Induce Apoptosis in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Quercetin is a dietary flavonoid which exerts anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of quercetin in two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), which differed in hormone receptor. IC₅₀ value (37μM) of quercetin showed significant cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells, which was not observed in MDA-MB-231 cells even at 100μM of quercetin treatment. To study the response of cancer cells to quercetin, with respect to different hormone receptors, both the cell lines were treated with a fixed concentration (40μM) of quercetin. MCF-7 cells on quercetin treatment showed more apoptotic cells with G1 phase arrest. In addition, quercetin effectively suppressed the expression of CyclinD1, p21, Twist and phospho p38MAPK, which was not observed in MDA-MB-231 cells. To analyse the molecular mechanism of quercetin in exerting an apoptotic effect in MCF-7 cells, Twist was over-expressed and the molecular changes were observed after quercetin administration. Quercetin effectively regulated the expression of Twist, in turn p16 and p21 which induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, quercetin induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells through suppression of Twist via p38MAPK pathway.     

Effects of the environmental estrogens bisphenol A, o,p'-DDT, p-tert-octylphenol and coumestrol on apoptosis induction, cell proliferation and the expression of estrogen sensitive molecular parameters in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

In the presented study, we have analysed effects of the environmental estrogens bisphenol A (BPA), p-tert-octylphenol (OCT), o,p'-DDT (DDT) and coumestrol (COU) on cell proliferation, apoptosis induction, progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR) mRNA expression and ER alpha protein expression in comparison to estradiol (E2) and the selective ER modulator (SERM) raloxifene (RAL) and the pure antiestrogen faslodex (ICI 182780) in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. A dose dependent analysis of the cell cycle distribution of MCF-7 cells after administration of OCT, DDT and COU revealed a significant induction of cell proliferation and reduced rate of apoptosis. Maximum induction of cell proliferation and the lowest rate of apoptosis could be observed at a dose of 10(-6)M. Interestingly, administration of BPA reduces the rate of apoptosis, but does not enhance proliferation at any dose analysed. PR mRNA expression in MCF-7 cells was up regulated after administration of COU and DDT, whereas treatment with BPA and OCT did not effect PR mRNA expression. AR mRNA expression was down regulated by COU, but not effected by BPA, DDT and OCT. The expression of ER alpha protein in the breast cancer cells was slightly down regulated by COU and DDT, but unaffected by BPA and OCT. In summary and in comparison to the effects observed after administration of E2, RAL and ICI our data indicate that none of the analysed compounds exhibit properties comparable to RAL and ICI. COU and DDT exhibit properties which are very similar to E2. Administration of BPA and OCT did not effect any of the estrogen sensitive molecular parameters analysed. Nevertheless OCT is a very potent stimulator of cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells. Surprisingly, BPA is not able to induce the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, but turns out to be a very potent inhibitor of apoptosis. For this reason and in agreement to the effects of BPA on the molecular parameters analysed, we conclude that BPA does not act in a classical estrogen like manner in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.     

(6E,10E) Isopolycerasoidol and (6E,10E) Isopolycerasoidol Methyl Ester,Prenylated Benzopyran Derivatives from Pseuduvaria monticola Induce Mitochondrial-Mediated Apoptosis in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cells

Phytochemicals from Pseuduvaria species have been reported to display a wide range of biological activities. In the present study, a known benzopyran derivative, (6E,10E) isopolycerasoidol (1), and a new benzopyran derivative, (6E,10E) isopolycerasoidol methyl ester (2), were isolated from a methanol extract of Pseuduvaria monticola leaves. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, IR, UV, and LCMS-QTOF, and by comparison with previously published data. The anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects of these compounds on human breast cancer cell-lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and a human normal breast epithelial cell line (MCF-10A) were investigated. MTT results revealed both (1) and (2) were efficient in reducing cell viability of breast cancer cells. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that (1) and (2) induced cell death via apoptosis, as demonstrated by an increase in phosphotidylserine exposure. Both compounds elevated ROS production, leading to reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and increased plasma membrane permeability in breast cancer cells. These effects occurred concomitantly with a dose-dependent activation of caspase 3/7 and 9, a down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2 and the accumulation of p38 MAPK in the nucleus. Taken together, our data demonstrate that (1) and (2) induce intrinsic mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in human breast cancer cells, which provides the first pharmacological evidence for their future development as anticancer agents.     

Artemisia absinthium (AA): a novel potential complementary and alternative medicine for breast cancer

Natural products have become increasingly important in pharmaceutical discoveries, and traditional herbalism has been a pioneering specialty in biomedical science. The search for effective plant-derived anticancer agents has continued to gain momentum in recent years. The present study aimed to investigate the role of crude extracts of the aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium (AA) extract in modulating intracellular signaling mechanisms, in particular its ability to inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis in a human breast carcinoma estrogenic-unresponsive cell line, MDA-MB-231, and an estrogenic-responsive cell line, MCF-7. Cells were incubated with various concentrations of AA, and anti-proliferative activity was assessed by MTT assays, fluorescence microscopy after propidium iodide staining, western blotting and cell cycle analysis. Cell survival assays indicated that AA was cytotoxic to both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. The morphological features typical of nucleic staining and the accumulation of sub-G1 peak revealed that the extract triggered apoptosis. Treatment with 25 μg/mL AA resulted in activation of caspase-7 and upregulation of Bad in MCF-7 cells, while exposure to 20 μg/mL AA induced upregulation of Bcl-2 protein in a time-dependent response in MDA-MB-231 cells. Both MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 was inactivated in both cell lines after AA treatment in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest that AA-induced anti-proliferative effects on human breast cancer cells could possibly trigger apoptosis in both cell lines through the modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins and the MEK/ERK pathway. This might lead to its possible development as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer following further investigations.     

DKK-1通过上调nm23表达抑制乳腺癌细胞迁移

Dickkopf-1(DKK-1)作为Wnt/β-连环蛋白(Wnt/β-catenin)经典信号传导通路的拮抗剂而受到关注.为了进一步阐明DKK-1在乳腺癌细胞迁移中的作用及其分子机制,应用我们建立的乳腺癌细胞MCF-7高转移倾向亚克隆LM-MCF-7细胞株,比较了DKK-1在不同转移能力的乳腺癌细胞株中表达水平及其与细胞迁移能力的关系.结果显示,DKK-1在LM-MCF-7细胞中表达明显下调;"伤口愈合"实验结果表明,在MCF-7细胞中,RNA干扰DKK-1可导致细胞迁移能力增强;相反,在LM-MCF-7细胞中过表达DKK-1则可抑制细胞的迁移.进一步研究结果显示,DKK-1为肿瘤转移抑制因子nm23的上游激活因子.因此,我们的研究结果表明,DKK-1表达水平下调导致nm23表达水平下调,解除了对乳腺癌细胞迁移的抑制作用,是LM-MCF-7乳腺癌细胞具有高迁移能力的原因之一;反之,与LM-MCF-7相比,DKK-1在MCF-7细胞中高表达,其通过上调nm23可抑制乳腺癌细胞迁移.这一发现对进一步揭示乳腺癌细胞转移的分子机制具有的重要意义.     

Expression profiling by whole-genome microarray hybridization reveals differential gene expression in breast cancer cell lines after lycopene exposure

The correlation between diet and variation in gene-expression is an important field which could be considered to approach cancer pathways comprehension. We examined the effects of lycopene on breast cancer cell lines using pangenomic arrays. Lycopene is derived predominantly from tomatoes and tomato products and there is some epidemiologic evidence for a preventive role in breast cancer. Previously, we investigated lycopene in breast cancer using a dedicated breast cancer microarray. To confirm these results and explore pathways other than those implicated in breast cancer, for this study we used pangenomic arrays containing 25,000 oligonucleotides. This in vitro study assayed two human mammary cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), and a fibrocystic breast cell line (MCF-10a) treated or not with 10 microM lycopene for 48 h. A competitive hybridization was performed between Cy3-labeled lycopene treated RNA and Cy5-labeled untreated RNA to define differentially expressed genes. Using t-test analysis, a subset of 391 genes was found to be differentially modulated by lycopene between estrogen-positive cells (MCF-7) and estrogen-negative cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF-10a). Hierarchical clustering revealed 726 discriminatory genes between breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) and the fibrocystic breast cell line (MCF-10a). Modified gene expression was observed in various molecular pathways, such as apoptosis, cell communication, MAPK and cell cycle as well as xenobiotic metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis and gap junctional intercellular communication.