Ethanol inhibits B16-BL6 melanoma metastasis and cell phenotypes associated with metastasis.
BACKGROUND
Every year, approximately 68,000 new cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed in the US. Ethanol consumption inhibits metastasis of melanoma in mice, but the mechanism is not well understood.


METHODS
C57BL/6J ob/+ mice, given either water or 20% ethanol, were injected intravenously with B16-BL6 melanoma cells to determine pulmonary metastasis. The effects of ethanol on cell phenotypes and markers of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition were determined in cell culture.


RESULTS
In mice, ethanol consumption inhibited experimental pulmonary metastasis. This inhibition was associated with decreased body weight, and levels of systemic leptin, and insulin. In cell culture, ethanol inhibited B16-BL6 cell motility, invasion, and anchorage-independent growth. Additionally, ethanol reduced Snai1 expression and increased E-cadherin expression. Lastly, ethanol increased the expression of Kiss1 metastasis-suppressor and the metastasis suppressor Nm23/nucleoside diphosphate kinase.


CONCLUSIONS
In both animal and in cell culture conditions, ethanol inhibited the metastatic ability of B16-BL6 melanoma cells.
Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Kyoko
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Kushiro
Nomelí P
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Núñez
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; C491407:Kiss1 protein, mouse; D059648:Kisspeptins; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; C000604429:Snai1 protein, mouse; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000431:Ethanol