Functional characterization of the human translocator protein (18Â kDa) gene promoter in human breast cancer cell lines

► Regulation of TSPO expression in human breast cancer cells depends on many factors. ► Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 regulation for constitutive TSPO expression through GC3 promoter region. ► Epigenetic modification of the proximal promoter, at the GC3 site, and the first exon. ► Differential regulation of TSPO promoter in non-aggressive and aggressive cancer cells. ► Understanding its regulation provides a TSPO-mediated cancer therapeutic approach.