We investigated the effects of Panobinostat (LBH-589), suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), and valproic acid (VPA) as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI) and 5-aza-2ʹ-deoxycytidine as a methyltransferase inhibitor on the migratory capacity of the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231.

Methods:  Cell migration assays were performed using an in vitro agarose spot assay as described by (Wiggins and Rappoport 2010). The difference between the motion of treated cells into EGF-containing spots compared with the motion of not treated cells was analyzed. The cells that had migrated through the spots were counted using ImageJ software. This method allowed the detection of cell motility.

Results: Our results indicated that the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI; Panobinostat, SAHA) and the methyltransferase inhibitor (vidaza) significantly inhibited the invasion and migration of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. Their inhibitory effect on cell migration could not be attributed to lower regulation of EGFR or downregulation of microRNA-124 target gene. Panobinostat was more potent than the others in inhibiting cell migration and promoted a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in the G0/1 phase of the cell cycle.

Conclusion: Thus, Panobinostat might be of clinical interest as a potent anti-metastatic agent.