Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of well-established NF-κB target genes BIRC3, ICAM1, TNFAIP3, PTGS2 and VCAM1, showed significantly higher expression levels of all of these genes in MDA-MB-231 cells co-cultivated with 3T3-L1 adipocytes as compared to breast cancer cells grown in presence of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts, ACM or regular growth medium (Fig. 3a). This evidence concerns the gene BIRC3 and breast cancer.