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Query: UMLS:C0006142 (breast cancer)
 160,383 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Electron spin resonance studies have been made of caeruloplasmin and iron transferrin levels in whole blood of healthy controls and patients with a variety of malignant conditions receiving various forms of treatment. A small difference was found in caeruloplasmin level between normal males and females, although normal females receiving contraceptive steroids had an elevated level. No difference was found in iron transferrin level. Various conditions increased the caeruloplasmin and some also decreased the iron transferrin level in patients with malignant disease. These included surgery and the approach of a terminal phase of disease. Once allowance for these factors was made, the remaining small differences in Cu and Fe between patients with either squamous cell carcinoma or breast cancer and controls appeared to have no clinical significance.
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PMID:Electron spin resonance of caeruloplasmin and iron transferrin in blood of patients with various malignant diseases. 20 Feb 54

ZR-75-1, a human breast cancer cell line, has been grown in hormone-supplemented medium without serum. The factors required for optimal growth include 17beta-estradiol, insulin, transferrin, dexamethasone, and L-triiodothyronine. If estradiol, insulin, or L-triiodothyronine is omitted, cells cease division within 7 days, but viability is retained for at least 14 days. Omission of transferrin leads to cell death within 7 days. The cells have been continuously maintained in this environment without morphological alteration or cessation of growth for more than 5 months. Addition of the anti-estrogen, Tamoxifen (10(-6) M), inhibited cells below the growth rate seen when estradiol was omitted from the medium, even when Tamoxifen was added 4 days and two medium changes after the removal of estradiol from the medium, thus suggesting an action of Tamoxifen which may be independent of competition with estradiol. The availability of a human breast cancer cell line that can be propagated in hormone-supplemented medium without serum should aid in the study of the mechanisms by which hormones effect cell growth.
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PMID:Growth of a human breast cancer cell line in serum-free hormone-supplemented medium. 21 80

Extrahepatic synthesis and secretion of transferrin (Tf), the major iron-carrying protein, have been described in normal and tumoral tissues suggesting a potential role for paracrine or autocrine function. In breast tumor cell MCF-7, we have previously shown a Tf secretion stimulated by estradiol which might confer selective growth advantages of these rapidly proliferating cells. The present work refers to possible additional Tf functions related to differentiation of breast tumor cells. We induced MCF-7 cell differentiation by the cyclic AMP derivative, dibutyryl cAMP (dB cAMP) and studied Tf secretion in different culture conditions after labeling with [35S] methionine. Our results demonstrate that dB cAMP stimulates Tf secretion only in culture environment that permits access to the basolateral surface and caters to the polarity requirements of the cell. These results suggest that Tf may also act as a modulator of cellular differentiation in breast cancer cells.
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PMID:Cyclic AMP stimulation of transferrin secretion by breast cancer cell grown on extracellular matrix or in two-compartment culture chambers. 171 42

Free radicals, intermediates in the tissue damage caused by radiation, are formed, inter alia, in interactions catalyzed by iron, which synergizes with radiation and some cytostatics (anthracyclins) in causing cell damage. Conversely, iron chelators can counteract cell damage. Similarly, antioxidants can slow atherogenesis, caused in part by oxidative stress and free radicals. Cell damage is also prevented by physiological defense systems like superoxide dismutase, against endogenous free radicals formed by granulocytes, monocytes, etc. Iron can thus induce free radicals which cause DNA double strand breaks and oncogene activation. This is suggested by four epidemiological studies suggesting a higher cancer risk in patients with larger iron stores than in those with small iron stores. In addition to its effect on carcinogenesis, iron can also maintain the growth of malignant cells as well as growth of pathogens. Breast cancer cells, for instance, display 5-15 times more transferrin receptors than normal breast tissue. Iron-carrying transferrin is in fact a growth factor. Hyposideremia in patients with cancer or infection is not a paraphenomenon but a functioning defense mechanism ('nutritional immunity'). If this immunity is broken by iron administration, relapses of diseases like tuberculosis, brucellosis, and malaria have been described. While iron-deficiency anemia should of course be diagnosed, treated and if possible prevented, there are good reasons to avoid over-utilization of medicamental iron.
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PMID:Iron, free radicals and cancer. 182 Apr 88

We studied the mode of iron transport and storage in a human breast cancer cell line (HT-24) in comparison with a breast epithelial cell line (HBL-100). It was found that HT-24 cells incorporated over 18 h more 59Fe as compared to HBL-100 (24 vs. 16%). Yet, the number of surface transferrin-binding sites was less in cancer cells (6.2 x 10(5)) than in epithelial cells (8 x 10(5)). Moreover, the transferrin receptors in cancer cells were less affected by iron overloading as compared with epithelial cells. Following immunoprecipitation of isoferritins with specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), it was found that the quantity of de novo synthesized normal ferritin immunoprecipitated with CM-G-8 MoAb was similar in both cancer and epithelial cells. However, the amount of 59Fe incorporated into the protein was significantly higher in HBL-100 cells. In contrast, HT-24 cells synthesized a high amount of placental-like isoferritin (PLF) immunoprecipitated with CM-H-9 MoAb which was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than in epithelial cells. This isoferritin was characterized by its low iron incorporation. It is noteworthy that the ratio of PLF to normal ferritin was 2:1 in cancer cells and 0.7:1 in epithelial cells, indicating that PLF is a major type of isoferritin synthesized by HT-24 breast cancer cells. Furthermore, a significant amount of PLF was expressed on the surface of cancer cells as compared to epithelial cells. The results of this study suggest that iron supply and distribution in breast neoplastic cells are not controlled similarly to normal cells.
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PMID:Comparison of transferrin receptors, iron content and isoferritin profile in normal and malignant human breast cell lines. 204 66

Monoclonal antibodies have been used to detect tumor cells in bone marrow of patients with neuroblastoma, breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, prostatic cancer and gastrointestinal carcinoma. By comparative analysis immunocytology proved to be more sensitive than conventional cytology and histology and had the additional advantage of specificity. A positive correlation exists between the presence of tumor cells in bone marrow and the extent of the primary tumor. The proliferative potential of the micrometastatic cells was assessed by characterization of EGF and transferrin receptors, tumorigenicity was shown by xenotransplantation experiments in nu/nu mice in a few instances. First follow-up studies indicate that the presence of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow can be taken as predicting the subsequent development of overt metastasis.
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PMID:Detection, characterization and tumorigenicity of disseminated tumor cells in human bone marrow. 210 96

The effect of ET-18-OCH3 on transferrin (Tf) binding in human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7, ZR-75-1 and BT-20, and mouse fibroblast, Balb/c 3T3, was investigated. Pretreatment with 3-25 micrograms/ml ET-18-OCH3 increased the Tf binding at 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C in all cell lines tested. In MCF-7, both the affinity and the number of Tf binding sites were increased by ET-18-OCH3. These observations are of interest with respect to the action of ET-18-OCH3 on cell surface receptors.
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PMID:Increase of transferrin binding induced by an alkyl-lysophospholipid in breast cancer cells. 213 68

When estradiol stimulation was performed on hormone-responsive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells maintained in phenol red-containing medium until 24h before experiments, the cell number and the cell surface transferrin receptor level, an early marker of estradiol stimulation, were strongly increased. In contrast, similar treatment performed on MCF-7 cells grown in phenol red-free medium up to 12 months before experiments induced no stimulating effect on the cell number, although transferrin receptors were still enhanced. Since the appearance of transferrin receptors occurs before the cells begin DNA synthesis in late G1 phase, we assumed that the discrepancy between cell counts and cell surface transferrin receptors might involve cell kinetic perturbations. The proportion of cells in the (S + G2) phases and the duration of the cell cycle phases were analysed using the SAMBA 200 cell image processor. The data presented in this study failed to indicate any block in the cell cycle and the duration of the S and G2 phases were found to be unchanged. The lack of effect of estradiol stimulation on the growth of MCF-7 cells maintained several months without phenol red is not thus a consequence of cell cycle perturbations.
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PMID:Cell kinetics (SAMBA 200) of estradiol stimulated long-term phenol red withdrawn cultured breast cancer cells. 238 77

In breast cancer cell lines, pro-cathepsin D is synthesized in excess and abnormally processed, resulting in its slower maturation and increased secretion into the culture medium. Since this lysosomal protease is only active at acidic pH, we have searched for acidic compartments other than lysosomes where cathepsin D might be active when MCF7 cells are plated on corneal extracellular matrix. We found large acidic intracellular vesicles (1.5 to 20 microns in diameter) by acridine orange and 3-(2,4-dinitroanilino)-3'-amino-N-methyldipropylamine staining, two fluorescent probes which reveal acidic compartments. These vesicles were actively acidified. They were 2- to 20-fold more abundant in MCF7 breast cancer cells and primary cultures of human breast cancers cells than in primary cultures of normal mammary epithelial cells. In living MCF7 cells, high resolution video-enhanced microscopy showed that these vesicles were mobile and intracellular. Double immunolocalization indicated that they contained mature cathepsin D (but no detectable pro-cathepsin D) and endocytosed extracellular material. This material (dextran, transferrin, and extracellular matrix) and the association with other lysosomal enzymes varied according to the vesicles, suggesting their heterogeneity (large endosomes or phagosomes). We conclude that, in breast cancer cells, cathepsin D may digest intracellularly phagocytosed and/or endocytosed extracellular matrix in large acidic vesicles. We propose that the higher expression of cathepsin D associated with the increased number of large acidic vesicles in breast cancer cells may facilitate digestion of basement membrane and consequently metastasis.
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PMID:Cathepsin D in breast cancer cells can digest extracellular matrix in large acidic vesicles. 239 69

Estrogen (E) is well known to be an important stimulator of progesterone receptor (PR) synthesis in target cells. We have observed that E stimulation of PR in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells (as monitored by progestin binding or Western blotting with anti-PR antibodies) increases as a function of serum concentration in the cell culture medium; PR stimulation by E is greatest in high serum medium (5% or 10% charcoal dextran-treated calf serum) and is not observed when cells are in medium containing serum concentrations below 1%, although estrogen receptor levels are well maintained. This suggests that some serum factor(s) may be essential for E to be able to stimulate PR. To better understand such factors, we have grown cells in serum-free medium and in serum-free medium supplemented with insulin (6.25 micrograms/ml) [corrected], transferrin (6.25 micrograms/ml), selenium (6.25 ng/ml), albumin (1.25 mg/ml) [corrected], and linoleic acid (5.35 micrograms/ml; ITS+). Unexpectedly, we found that addition of ITS+ (without E) increases PR levels in these cells, especially in the absence of serum and under low serum conditions where E stimulation of PR is poor. Analyses of the individual components in ITS+ reveal that insulin is the major active component. Dose-response studies indicate that high superphysiological (greater than 1 microgram/ml) concentrations of insulin are required. In contrast, low physiological levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I; 10 or 40 ng/ml) are active, suggesting mediation by the IGF type I receptor system. At all serum concentrations (0-10%), the effects of ITS+ and E in increasing PR are synergistic. The fact that anti-E are able to suppress the insulin/IGF-I stimulation as well as the E stimulation of PR suggests that the anti-E can actively interfere with the action of the growth factor as well as the action of E. These results indicate that regulation of PR is multifactor and raise the possibility that PR may be regulated in vivo by both E and growth factors such as IGF-I that are known to be increased in these breast cancer cells by E.
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PMID:Multihormonal regulation of the progesterone receptor in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells: interrelationships among insulin/insulin-like growth factor-I, serum, and estrogen. 240 51


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