ISSN:
1573-7217
Keywords:
insulin-like growth factors
;
hormonally regulated growth
;
MCF-7 breast cancer cell line
;
transforming growth factors α and β
;
estrogen
;
progesterone
;
prolactin
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The hormone dependency of the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, while extensively tested in liquid culture, has not been previously evaluated under conditions of anchorage-independent growth in serum-free media. Using the soft agar clonogenic assay, we demonstrate that physiologically relevant concentrations of estradiol (E2), progesterone (Pg), and prolactin (PRL) similarly stimulated MCF-7 cell colony formation in the absence of serum. Addition of an anti-insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) antibody inhibited E2- and Pg-stimulated growth, while PRL action was not affected. Similar results were obtained with an anti-IGF-I receptor antibody, except that its inhibitory effect on Pg-induced colony formation was modest and not statistically significant. Administration of either an anti-transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) antibody or an anti-epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor antibody similarly inhibited E2-stimulated MCF-7 cell growth in soft agar, while neither antibody influenced Pg or PRL effects. Addition of TGF-β1, -β2, -β3 similarly suppressed MCF-7 cell colony formation in a dose dependent manner to a degree comparable to that observed with 4-OH-tamoxifen (4-OH-T). Furthermore, the growth inhibitory effect of 4-OH-T was completely reversed by an anti-TGF-β antibody. We conclude that IGFs and TGF-α are important mediators of E2-stimulated MCF-7 cell growth in soft agar. IGFs may also be playing a role in Pg action, while neither growth factor is involved in PRL-stimulated colony formation. Finally, TGF-β appears to be an important mediator of antiestrogen-induced inhibition of tumor growth.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01833356
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