Abstract: Objective To figure out whether ferulic acid regulates the proliferation, migration and invasion in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Methods After 0, 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5 or 10 mmol/L ferulic acid treatment for 24 h, CCK-8 assay was performed to detect cell viability and colony formation was detected by soft agar assay. After 0 or 2.5 mmol/L ferulic acid treatment for 24 h, scratch assay and transwell assay were performed to reveal migrating and invasing abilities. Gene expressing silencing and overexpression were employed to evaluate whether estrogen receptor α was involved in the regulatory role of ferulic acid. RT-qPCR analysis was performed to detect MALAT-1 levels after ferulic acid treatment. Results With the growing concentration of ferulic acid, cell viability was promoted (P＜0.05). Compared to control group, ferulic acid treatment promoted proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in MCF-7 in a concentration dependent manner (P＜0.05). Silencing of ERα decreased the effect of Ferulic acid on MCF-7; overexpression of ERα increased the effect of ferulic acid on MB231. It was also revealed that ferulic acid exposure regulated MALAT-1 expressing level in a ERα dependent manner. Conclusion Ferulic acid serum regulates lncRNA MALAT-1 and the proliferation, migration and invasionin MCF-7 cells depending on the existence of ERα receptor.

Key words: Tao-Hong-Si-Wu-Tang, MALAT-1, breast cancer, estrogen receptor, phytoestrogen.