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We have studied the influence of synthetic progestins on the estrogen-induced proliferation and type-beta transforming-growth-factor (TGF-beta) production of 3 breast-tumor cell lines. In long-term growth experiments, progestins inhibited proliferation of T47D cells, while a specific T47D variant and MCF7 cells were not affected, despite the presence of functional progesterone receptors. The effect of progestins was biphasic, since an initial stimulation of proliferation was followed by a prolonged inhibition. This response suggests the involvement of a progestin-induced negative growth regulator. We show here that TGF-beta s do not fulfill this role since (i) the progestin-induced T47D cells are not sensitive to TGF-beta 1, -beta 2 or -beta 3, (ii) secretion of TGF-beta s is decreased by progestins in all 3 cell lines, and (iii) TGF-beta neutralizing antibodies do not reverse progestin-induced growth inhibition. Furthermore, evidence was obtained that medium conditioned by T47D cells does not contain any other growth inhibitor to which this cell line responds in a negative autocrine manner. In contrast, MCF7 cells are growth-inhibited by all 3 TGF-beta isoforms, but are not growth-inhibited by progestins, suggesting that there is no correlation between growth inhibition by progestins and responsiveness to and production of TGF-beta in vitro. Although TGF-beta is a strong growth inhibitor of normal mammary tissue, recent evidence suggests that, in malignant tissue, enhanced TGF-beta secretion correlates with increased malignancy. Therefore, a progestin-induced decrease in TGF-beta production, as observed here, may lead to enhanced proliferation of normal but not malignant mammary epithelium.

Proliferation of the human breast tumor cell lines T47D and MCF7 was stimulated by high concentrations (10(-6) M) of the synthetic progestins gestodene and 3-ketodesogestrel, but not by Org2058, comparable to the stimulation by low dosages of estradiol (10(-10) M). At physiological concentrations of the progestins (10(-10) M) only T47D cells responded. Using specific antihormones it was shown that the effect at pharmacological dosages is mediated by a crossreaction of these compounds with the estrogen receptor (ER), while the stimulation of T47D cells at physiological concentrations seems progesterone receptor (PR) mediated. This was further substantiated using transient transfection assays with ER- and PR-inducible reporter constructs and mRNA induction of the ER- and PR-target genes pS2 and fatty acid synthetase, respectively. Using a whole cell ligand binding assay, 20-fold higher amounts of PR were measured in T47D compared to MCF7 cells. This was in line with a much higher PR-dependent transactivation in T47D cells and suggests that the level of transcriptionally active PR is a major determinant for the response to physiological concentrations of progestins in human breast cancer cells.

Retinoic acid (RA) strongly inhibits proliferation of the estrogen (E2)-dependent human breast cancer cell lines MCF7, T47D, and ZR75-1, but not the E2-independent and E2 receptor (ER)-negative lines MDA-MB231, MDA-MB468, BT20 and Hs578T. The specific sensitivity of the E2-dependent cell lines seems not to be caused by an inhibitory effect of RA on ER functioning since RA inhibited the proliferative response not only to E2 but also to insulin. Furthermore, endogenous RA receptors (RARs) hardly impaired transcriptional activation of an E2 responsive element-tk-CAT reporter construct. RAR alpha mRNA was highly expressed in the RA-responsive lines, but not in the unresponsive lines, except BT20. With the exception of Hs578T, also RAR beta mRNA expression was low in the unresponsive lines. While in the dependent lines and Hs578T RA activated RA responsive element-dependent transcriptional activity, this response was very low in MDA-MB231, MDA-MB468, and BT20, suggesting that the RA resistance of these latter three ER-negative lines is due to underexpression of functional RARs. Our results suggest that the loss of functional RARs may be a frequent event, leading to RA unresponsiveness of ER-negative breast cancer cells. This implies that both the steroid and retinoid receptor status of breast tumors may be used to predict a successful treatment with retinoids.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is the most relevant and functionally active metabolite of Vitamin-A. From a therapeutic standpoint, ATRA is the first example of pharmacological agent exerting its anti-tumor activity via a cell differentiating action. In the clinics, ATRA is used in the treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, a rare form of myeloid leukemia with unprecedented therapeutic results. The extraordinary effectiveness of ATRA in the treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia patients has raised interest in evaluating the potential of this natural retinoid in the treatment of other types of neoplasias, with particular reference to solid tumors. The present article provides an overview of the available pre-clinical and clinical studies focussing on ATRA as a therapeutic agent in the context of breast cancer from a holistic point of view. In detail, we focus on the direct effects of ATRA in breast cancer cells as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms of action. In addition, we summarize the available information on the action exerted by ATRA on the breast cancer micro-environment, an emerging determinant of the progression and invasive behaviour of solid tumors. In particular we discuss the recent evidences of ATRA activity on the immune system. Finally, we analyse and discuss the results obtained with the few ATRA-based clinical trials conducted in the context of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coherence between thyroid dysfunction and breast cancer incidence exists. Thyroid hormone metabolites bind to TAAR1 (trace amine-associated receptor 1) and through that modulate the serotonergic and dopaminergic system. Catecholamines themselves are synthesized by the L-dopa decarboxylase (DDC). The aim of our study was to analyze the influence of catecholamines on the DDC expression in primary breast cancer patients and the role of DDC concerning overall survival (OS). DDC expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The effect of epinephrine on the expression of DDC and the G i - protein was analyzed on the protein level via Western blot. A viability assay was performed to test the metabolic cell viability. The overexpression of DDC in the primary tumor was associated with longer OS (p = 0.03). Stimulation with epinephrine induced the downregulation of DDC (p = 0.038) and significantly increased viability in T47D cells (p = 0.028). In contrast, epinephrine induced an upregulation of DDC and decreased the proliferation of MCF7 cells (p = 0.028). Epinephrine led to an upregulation of G i protein expression in MCF7 cells (p = 0.008). DDC is a positive prognostic factor for OS in breast cancer patients, and it is regulated through epinephrine differently in MCF7 and T47D. DDC may represent a novel target for the treatment of breast cancer, especially concerning its interaction with epinephrine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the use of oral administration of pharmacological all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) concentration in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) patients was approved for over 20 years and used as standard therapy still to date, the same use in solid cancers is still controversial. In the present review the literature about the top five lethal solid cancers (lung, stomach, liver, breast, and colon cancer), as defined by The Global Cancer Observatory of World Health Organization, and retinoic acids (ATRA, 9-cis retinoic acid, and 13-cis retinoic acid, RA) was compared. The action of retinoic acids in inhibiting the cell proliferation was found in several cell pathways and compartments: from membrane and cytoplasmic signaling, to metabolic enzymes, to gene expression. However, in parallel in the most aggressive phenotypes several escape routes have evolved conferring retinoic acids-resistance. The comparison between different solid cancer types pointed out that for some cancer types several information are still lacking. Moreover, even though some pathways and escape routes are the same between the cancer types, sometimes they can differently respond to retinoic acid therapy, so that generalization cannot be made. Further studies on molecular pathways are needed to perform combinatorial trials that allow overcoming retinoic acids resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]