The Binomial “Inflammation-Epigenetics” in Breast Cancer Progression and Bone Metastasis: IL-1β Actions Are Influenced by TET Inhibitor in MCF-7 Cell Line

The existence of a tight relationship between inflammation and epigenetics that in primary breast tumor cells can lead to tumor progression and the formation of bone metastases was investigated. It was highlighted how the induction of tumor progression and bone metastasis by Interleukin-1 beta, in a non-metastatic breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, was dependent on the de-methylating actions of ten-eleven translocation proteins (TETs). In fact, the inhibition of their activity by the Bobcat339 molecule, an inhibitor of TET enzymes, determined on the one hand, the modulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, and on the other hand, the reduction in the expression of markers of bone metastasis, indicating that the epigenetic action of TETs is a prerequisite for IL-1β-dependent tumor progression and bone metastasis formation.