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Growth and Fatty Acid Metabolism of Human Breast Cancer (MCF-7) Xenografts in Nude Rats: Impact of Constant Light-Induced Nocturnal Melatonin Suppression

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Abstract

The nocturnal melatonin (MLT) surge is a relevant oncostatic signal for a variety of experimental malignancies. Population studies support the hypothesis that exposure to light at night may represent a new risk factor for breast cancer possibly through the suppression of pineal MLT production and/or circadian disruption. We tested the ability of constant light exposure to suppress MLT production in female nude rats and stimulate the growth of tissue-isolated MCF-7 human breast cancer xenografts via increased tumor linoleic acid (LA) metabolism. Rats maintained on an alternating light/dark cycle (L:D group) exhibited a robust circadian MLT rhythm that was abolished following constant light exposure. During the exposure of animals bearing tissue-isolated human MCF-7 breast cancer xenografts to constant light, the rate of tumor growth markedly increased relative to the L:D group. Tumor LA uptake and its metabolism to the mitogen 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE) were also substantially higher under constant light conditions. This is the first biological evidence for a potential link between constant light exposure and increased human breast oncogenesis involving MLT suppression and stimulation of tumor LA metabolism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Chrono-Neuroendocrine Oncology, Bassett Research Institute, Cooperstown, NY, USA

    David E. Blask, Robert T. Dauchy, Leonard A. Sauer & Jean A. Krause

  2. Department of Neurology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    George C. Brainard

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  1. David E. Blask
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  2. Robert T. Dauchy
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  3. Leonard A. Sauer
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  4. Jean A. Krause
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  5. George C. Brainard
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Blask, D.E., Dauchy, R.T., Sauer, L.A. et al. Growth and Fatty Acid Metabolism of Human Breast Cancer (MCF-7) Xenografts in Nude Rats: Impact of Constant Light-Induced Nocturnal Melatonin Suppression. Breast Cancer Res Treat 79, 313–320 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024030518065

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