FUT3 expression in human breast cancer cells under hypoxia and serum deprivation.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the effects of hypoxia and serum deprivation on regulation of fucosyltransferase-3 (FUT3) expression in breast cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: FUT3 expression was evaluated in T47D and MCF7 cells. Transcriptional and protein analysis was performed under hypoxia and serum deprivation conditions after 6 and 24 hours; and after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. RESULTS: In T47D cells, experimental conditions induced a significant decrease in FUT3 expression at both, transcriptional and protein levels, while in MCF7 cells the same conditions induced a significant increase of FUT3 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Regulation of FUT3 expression under hypoxic and serum deprivation conditions may be involved in the acquisition of advantages related to apoptosis resistance and metastasis promotion, according to the intrinsic differences presented by T47D and MCF7 cells.