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Journals / Experimed / 2026 / Volume: 16 Issue: 1

Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Cell Cycle and DNA Repair Pathway Modulation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Exposed to Polyphenol-rich Propolis

Mehmet Fatih Seyhan(ISTANBUL YENI YUZYIL UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS)0000-0002-6218-0049
Özlem Timirci Kahraman(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY, AZIZ SANCAR INSTITUTE OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE)0000-0002-2641-5613
Naci Şenkal(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY, İSTANBUL FACULTY OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE)0000-0001-7072-8724
Halil Ibrahim Kisakesen(ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS, DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS)0000-0002-0351-4205
Allison Pınar Eronat(HALIC UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS PR. (PAID))0000-0002-8095-1759
Tülin Öztürk(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY-CERRAHPASA, CERRAHPAŞA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGICAL MEDICAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL PATHOLOGY)0000-0001-6910-1131
Fatih Yanar(BOGAZICI UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS PR. (ENGLISH))0000-0003-1399-3382
Hülya Yılmaz Aydoğan(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY, AZIZ SANCAR INSTITUTE OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE)0000-0002-8837-6664
Oğuz Öztürk(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY, AZIZ SANCAR INSTITUTE OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE)0000-0002-2439-9269
Journal
Experimed
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-08-27
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: The findings of the microarray assay have highlighted that propolis from Türkiye has the capacity to inhibit the cell division process at many points and modulate the DNA repair mechanism.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most invasive subtype of breast cancer distinguished by its high recurrence rates and clinical aggression.
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Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 50 µg/mL propolis concentration for 48 and 72hours on gene expression levels in MDA-MB-231 cells using microarray assay.
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Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: The findings of the microarray assay have highlighted that propolis from Türkiye has the capacity to inhibit the cell division process at many points and modulate the DNA repair mechanism.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:triple negative breast cancer · propolis · MDA-MB-231

Abstract

Objective: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most invasive subtype of breast cancer distinguished by its high recurrence rates and clinical aggression. Honey bees naturally create propolis, which can be used as an alternative therapy for breast cancer due to its anti-cancer properties. The study aimed to examine the impacts of propolis by elucidating potential anticarcinogenic and modulatory effects focusing on whole-genome expression levels. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 50 µg/mL propolis concentration for 48 and 72hours on gene expression levels in MDA-MB-231 cells using microarray assay. Microarray results were also validated using selected genes such as BIRC5, CDC25C, CCN1, CCN2, and CDK1 via the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method. Results: According to bioinformatics analysis, 315 gene expression changed statistically significantly following 50 µg/ mL propolis treatment at all-time intervals. GeneSpring pathway analysis revealed significant effects of propolis on pathways related to cell division, including cell cycle and Rb in cancer. Propolis led to downregulation of CDK1, a gene associated with the cell cycle, and expression of genes associated with DNA repair mechanisms, including BRCA1, BARD1, RAD51, and CHEK1. Conclusion: The findings of the microarray assay have highlighted that propolis from Türkiye has the capacity to inhibit the cell division process at many points and modulate the DNA repair mechanism.

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Cite This Article

Seyhan, M. F., Kahraman, Ö. T., Şenkal, N., Kisakesen, H. I., Eronat, A. P., Öztürk, T., Yanar, F., Aydoğan, H. Y., Öztürk, O. (2026). Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Cell Cycle and DNA Repair Pathway Modulation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Exposed to Polyphenol-rich Propolis. Experimed, Volume: 16 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.26650/experimed.1823647

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