OBHS impairs the viability of breast cancer via decreasing ERα and Atg13

Breast cancer (BRCA) is one of the most threatening cancer types, especially among the female population. 70% of breast cancer are estrogen receptor a (ERa) positive and endocrine therapy is effective to decrease breast cancer risk. Autophagy, a highly conserved cellular recycling process, has been regarded to serve a protective role in BRCA. Autophagy-related gene 13 (Atg13) is participated in autophagy and is critical to autophagy initiation. Briefly, we observed that ERa, a well-known transcription factor that can promote breast cancer cell proliferation, expressed higher in breast cancer tissues. Moreover, ERa had a significant positive correlation with Atg13 and may be able to regulate the transcription of Atg13 via binding the promoter region of Atg13. Surprisingly, Oxabicycloheptene sulfonate (OBHS), the drug that we reported as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) before, may have the ability to decrease the expression of ERa and suppress the autophagy. In conclusion. We found that ERa could be involved in autophagy by binding the promoter of Atg13, and compound OBHS may be able to affect the viability of breast cancer cells by decreasing the expression of ERa and Atg13. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Breast cancer, mostly estrogen receptor a positive, can benefit from endocrine therapy to reduce risk; Autophagy plays a protective role in breast cancer; ERa may regulate autophagy through Atg13, and compound OBHS could affect breast cancer cell viability by suppressing ERa and autophagy.