Isatin inhibits the invasion of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, based on microarray analysis

Neuroblastoma is the fourth most common type of extracranial malignant solid tumor in children. Isatin had been demonstrated to have inhibitory effects on neuroblastoma tumors in vivo and in vitro. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanism related to the anti-invasion effect of isatin on SH-SY5Y cells using microarray analysis. The microarray data identified a number of genes to be differentially upregulated or downregulated between isatin-treated cells and untreated controls. A large number of these genes were associated with the mTOR signaling pathway. The differentially expressed genes involved in the mTOR signaling pathway were verified further, as well as their downstream genes associated with autophagy. The results of the present study provided an insight into the potential inhibitory mechanism of isatin on neuroblastoma metastasis.