Melatonin modifies tumor hypoxia and metabolism by inhibiting HIF-1α and energy metabolic pathway in the in vitro and in vivo models of breast cancer

Melatonin and tumor hypoxia in breast cancer

  • André de Lima Mota Laboratory of Molecular Investigation of Cancer – LIMC, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto/FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
  • Bruna Vitorasso Jardim-Perassi Laboratory of Molecular Investigation of Cancer – LIMC, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto/FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
  • Tialfi Bergamin de Castro Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
  • Jucimara Colombo Laboratory of Molecular Investigation of Cancer – LIMC, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto/FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
  • Nathália Martins Sonehara Laboratory of Molecular Investigation of Cancer – LIMC, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto/FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
  • Victor Keniti Gomes Nishiyama Laboratory of Molecular Investigation of Cancer – LIMC, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto/FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
  • Vinícius Augusto Gonçalves Pierri Laboratory of Molecular Investigation of Cancer – LIMC, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto/FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
  • Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari Laboratory of Molecular Investigation of Cancer – LIMC, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto/FAMERP and Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
Keywords: Breast cancer, hypoxia, intratumoral heterogeneity, melatonin, HIF-1α, tumor microenvironment.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and has a high mortality rate. Adverse conditions in the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia and acidosis, may exert selective pressure on the tumor, selecting subpopulations of tumor cells with advantages for survival in this environment. In this context, therapeutic agents that can modify these conditions, and consequently the intratumoral heterogeneity need to be explored. Melatonin, in addition to its physiological effects, exhibits important anti-tumor actions which may associate with modification of hypoxia and Warburg effect. In this study, we have evaluated the action of melatonin on tumor growth and tumor metabolism by different markers of hypoxia and glucose metabolism (HIF-1α, glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT3 and carbonic anhydrases CA-IX and CA-XII) in triple negative breast cancer model. In an in vitro study, gene and protein expressions of these markers were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry, respectively. The effects of melatonin were also tested in a MDA-MB-231 xenograft animal model. Results showed that melatonin treatment reduced the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells and tumor growth in Balb/c nude mice (p <0.05). The treatment significantly decreased HIF-1α gene and protein expression concomitantly with the expression of GLUT1, GLUT3, CA-IX and CA-XII (p <0.05). These results strongly suggest that melatonin down-regulates HIF-1α expression and regulates glucose metabolism in breast tumor cells, therefore, controlling hypoxia and tumor progression.

 


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Published
2019-12-15
How to Cite
[1]
Mota, A., Jardim-Perassi, B., de Castro, T., Colombo, J., Sonehara, N., Nishiyama, V., Pierri, V. and Zuccari, D. 2019. Melatonin modifies tumor hypoxia and metabolism by inhibiting HIF-1α and energy metabolic pathway in the in vitro and in vivo models of breast cancer. Melatonin Research. 2, 4 (Dec. 2019), 83-98. DOI:https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32794/mr11250042.
Section
Research Articles