Identifying Genes Associated with the Anticancer Activity of a Fluorinated Chalcone in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Oncology

Background:

• Fluorinated chalcones exhibit anticancer properties against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
• The precise molecular mechanisms underlying their efficacy remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular mechanisms of a novel fluorinated chalcone (compound 3) against TNBC cells.
• To identify differentially expressed genes and associated biological pathways affected by compound 3 treatment.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a novel fluorinated chalcone via Claisen-Schmidt reaction.
• Transcriptome analysis of MDA-MB-231 cells using Illumina NextSeq500.
• Bioinformatic identification of differentially expressed genes (|log2FC| ≥ 2, adjusted p < 0.05) using DESeq2.

Main Results:

• Identified 504 differentially expressed genes in response to compound 3.
• Enrichment analysis revealed involvement in "regulation of cell death" and "response to unfolded proteins".
• Discovered involvement in "HSF1-dependent transactivation pathway" and "attenuation phase pathway".

Conclusions:

• The fluorinated chalcone may modulate HSF1 silencing.
• Compound 3 up-regulates genes involved in stress-induced apoptosis.
• This compound holds potential as a novel therapeutic agent for TNBC.