PEA3 activates VEGF transcription in T47D and SKBR3 breast cancer cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent stimulator of angiogenesis and a prognostic factor for many tumors, including those of endocrine-responsive tissues such as the breast and uterus. In this study, we found that overexpression of PEA3 could increase VEGF mRNA levels and VEGF promoter activity in human T47D and SKBR3 breast cancer cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that PEA3 could bind to the VEGF promoter in the cells transfected with PEA3 expression vector. PEA3 small interfering RNA attenuated VEGF promoter activity and the binding of PEA3 to the VEGF promoter in T47D and SKBR3 cells. These results indicated that PEA3 could activate VEGF promoter transcription.