This approach led to the detection of cancer-related genes, which were oncogenic genes, including EGR3 and POU4F2/Brn-3b were down-regulated, while the tumor suppressor gene, GPC3, was up-regulated by 1 nm melatonin-treated MCF-7 cells.
In cancer cells, elevated transcription factor-related Brn-3a regulator isolated from brain cDNA (Brn-3b) transcription factor enhances proliferation in vitro and increases tumour growth in vivo whilst conferring drug resistance and migratory potential, whereas reducing Brn-3b slows growth both in vitro and in vivo.
The Brn-3b POU domain transcription factor is elevated in a significant proportion of breast cancers and in neuroblastoma tumours, where it is associated with increased proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, faster and larger tumour growth in xenograft models, resistance to growth inhibitory stimuli and increased migratory potential.
These results demonstrate, for the first time, that inhibition of Brn-3a expression or enhanced Brn-3b expression can inhibit cervical cell-derived tumour growth in vivo as well as in vitro.