Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Cell Cycle and DNA Repair Pathway Modulation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Exposed to Polyphenol-rich Propolis

Objective: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most invasive subtype of breast cancer distinguished by its high recurrence rates and clinical aggression. Honey bees naturally create propolis, which can be used as an alternative therapy for breast cancer due to its anti-cancer properties. The study aimed to examine the impacts of propolis by elucidating potential anticarcinogenic and modulatory effects focusing on whole-genome expression levels. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 50 µg/mL propolis concentration for 48 and 72hours on gene expression levels in MDA-MB-231 cells using microarray assay. Microarray results were also validated using selected genes such as BIRC5, CDC25C, CCN1, CCN2, and CDK1 via the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method.Results: According to bioinformatics analysis, 315 gene expression changed statistically significantly following 50 µg/ mL propolis treatment at all-time intervals. GeneSpring pathway analysis revealed significant effects of propolis on pathways related to cell division, including cell cycle and Rb in cancer. Propolis led to downregulation of CDK1, a gene associated with the cell cycle, and expression of genes associated with DNA repair mechanisms, including BRCA1, BARD1, RAD51, and CHEK1.Conclusion: The findings of the microarray assay have highlighted that propolis from Türkiye has the capacity to inhibit the cell division process at many points and modulate the DNA repair mechanism.