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

Tamoxifen (TAM), the non-steroidal anti-estrogen most widely administered to breast cancer patients, acts, at least in part, by competing with estrogen receptors (ER). However, the existence of an alternative mechanism of action for this drug is supported by the clinical observations that: (a) 30% of patients with ER-negative cancer cells respond to TAM, and (b) 30% of patients with ER-positive cancer cells are not sensitive to this anti-estrogen. In this study, we observed that growth of the human ER-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435 was inhibited by TAM and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OH-TAM) in a concentration-dependent fashion. Both monoclonal enzymoimmunoassay and Dextran Charcoal Coated Scatchard radioimmunoassay analysis demonstrated that this MDA-MB-435 cell line does not express ER. The absence of ER in MDA-MB-435 cells was also demonstrated at the mRNA level by both northern blot hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction techniques. MDA-MB-435 cell proliferation was not affected by 17 beta-estradiol or by the pure anti-estrogen ICI 164384, further demonstrating that the observed effects of TAM and its active metabolite on the proliferation of MDA-MB-435 cells were due to an ER-independent mechanism, yet to be identified. MDA-MB-435 thus appears to be a promising original model for the study of the alternative ER-independent mechanisms of action of TAM.
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PMID:Tamoxifen and its active metabolite inhibit growth of estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-435 cells. 785 22

We used antisense RNA in a protocol designed to reduce estrogen receptor (ER) content in human breast cancer cells and observed paradoxical increases in ER levels. ER protein activity was measured using a highly sensitive reporter gene assay that relies on the ability of functional ER to bind a consensus estrogen response element (ERE) and drive the production of chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT). Upon transient transfection of ER-positive cell lines with three different vectors containing the full-length ER cDNA cloned in an antisense orientation, we observed unexpected increases in ER-driven CAT activity. To further investigate this phenomenon, expression from the antisense ER vectors was studied in an ER-negative breast tumor cell line, MDA-MB-453. ER activity was observed in these ER-negative cells upon transient transfection with each of three antisense ER vectors, but not from control vectors. Expression of ER from antisense constructs was 30-100-times less efficient than ER expression from isogenic sense constructs. The paradoxical ER activity was consistent with expected ER behavior in that it exhibited characteristic binding to the natural ligand, 17 beta-estradiol (E2), and it was inhibited by the antiestrogens, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (OHT) and ICI 164384 (ICI). Control vectors containing a truncated antisense ER cDNA produced no ER activity. Although the mechanism for this ER expression has not been determined, it appears likely that it is due to transcription off the opposite strand of the antisense construct.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Paradoxical production of target protein using antisense RNA expression vectors. 795 84

The effect of some new antiestrogens (ICI 164384, ICI 182780, Ly 133314 and Ly 117018) on the growth of a panel of breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB 231, BT20, MCF7 and T47D) was studied. Their antiestrogenic activity was investigated in the presence of a physiologic concentration of estradiol and compared with the effect displayed by tamoxifen in the same experimental conditions. Tamoxifen confirmed its antagonistic activity in the presence of estradiol, whereas when given alone it did not exhibit a clear antiproliferative effect. All other compounds showed variable activity: ICI 164384 and ICI 182780 exerted a variable inhibitory effect in all cell lines, but only in the absence of estradiol; Ly 133314 and Ly 117018 did not show a clear antagonistic activity and sometimes had a synergistic effect with estradiol in increasing cell growth. These results indicate an extreme variability in terms of antagonistic effect of these new compounds and suggest their inadequacy to replace tamoxifen as an antiestrogen during endocrine treatment. Interestingly, ICI 164384 exerted an antiproliferative action also an estrogen receptor-negative cell lines, probably through an alternative mechanism non estrogen receptor-mediated, supporting the hypothesis that it could be effective on estrogen receptor-positive as well as estrogen receptor-negative tumors.
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PMID:Activity of tamoxifen and new antiestrogens on estrogen receptor positive and negative breast cancer cells. 807 50

So far, no combination of endocrine treatments has been routinely used in the therapy of breast Cancer. It was, therefore, our interest to determine whether the combination of the antiprogestin, onapristone (ON), and the pure antiestrogen, ICI 164384 (ICI) might provide a more effective therapy than either monotherapy in experimental mammary tumors containing both estrogen and progesterone receptors. In the MXT-mammary tumor of the mouse, ON (5 mg/kg) administered for 3 weeks exerted an ovariectomy-like antitumor effect (56% inhibition), whereas ICI (30 mg/kg) was weakly effective (28% inhibition). The combination of ON and ICI was, however, distinctly more effective than the monotherapies or ovariectomy, causing 78% inhibition. A similar potentiation of antitumor effect by the combination was manifested in the dimethylbenzanthracene-induced mammary tumor of the rat when ON (5 mg/kg) and ICI (30 mg/kg) were administered once daily for 4 weeks (s.c.). The remission rates of tumors found after treatment with ICI, ON, the combination and ovariectomy (complete and partial remission) were 15%, 46%, 71% and 100% respectively. In the animals bearing DMBA-induced tumors, treatment with ON alone significantly increased the serum levels of luteinizing hormone and prolactin, but caused only a slight increase in the peripheral levels of estradiol and progesterone. ON had no appreciable effect on the uterine and ovarian weights. ICI reduced the uterine weight and the serum progesterone level. In the combination with ON, ICI reversed the effect of ON on the progesterone level without influencing the luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels. These findings suggest that the augmentation of antitumor effectiveness by the combination of two antihormones can be ascribed not only to their effects at estrogen- and progesterone-receptor-binding sites, but also to the decrease in the peripheral level of progesterone. Thus, an appropriate combination of antiprogestin and pure antiestrogen may be useful in the management of breast cancer.
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PMID:Enhancement of the antitumor efficacy of the antiprogestin, onapristone, by combination with the antiestrogen, ICI 164384. 812 59

The mechanism of action of the pure antiestrogens ICI 164384 and ICI 182780 has been investigated. Both antagonists are steroidal antiestrogens with 7 alpha-alkylamide side-chains. The antiestrogens reduce the cellular content of the estrogen receptor by reducing the half-life of the protein. A potential mechanism for this effect is suggested by the observation that the DNA binding activity of receptors which have been over-expressed in cells was inhibited in vitro. The inhibitory activity of analogues of ICI 164384 with different side chain lengths correlates with their ability to function as pure antiestrogens in vivo. Since the estrogen binding site overlaps with residues involved in dimerisation, the antiestrogens are likely to bind to a similar site and may therefore with receptor dimerisation in the hormone binding domain by means of the 7 alpha side-chain. We propose that the increased turnover of the receptor in the presence of ICI 164384 and ICI 182380 is a consequence of impaired dimerisation of the proteins.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 1993
PMID:Action of "pure" antiestrogens in inhibiting estrogen receptor action. 821 50

Retinoic acid inhibits proliferation and steroid receptor gene expression in human breast cancer cell lines. Retinoic acid receptors (RAR)alpha, -beta, and -gamma are expressed in these cells and the expression of RAR alpha is significantly greater in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cells. This study was undertaken to determine whether the same relationship between RAR alpha and ER gene expression was present in human breast cancers and to explore the possibility that the higher level of RAR alpha in ER-positive cells was due to estrogen regulation of RAR alpha gene expression. RAR alpha and ER mRNA expression were determined by Northern blot analysis in 116 primary breast tumors; 94 (81%) tumors were ER-positive and of these 87 (93%) were also RAR alpha-positive. The coexpression of ER and RAR alpha was statistically significant (P = 0.0052 by chi 2 contingency analysis). There was also a positive correlation (by linear regression analysis) between the levels of expression of ER and RAR alpha mRNA (r2 = 0.251, P = 0.0001), which confirmed the relationship previously documented in breast cancer cell lines and suggested that RAR alpha expression may be modulated in breast cancer in vivo by estrogens acting via the ER. The ability of estradiol to regulate RAR alpha gene expression was examined in vitro using T-47D cells which had been rendered sensitive to estrogen by repeated passage in steroid-depleted medium. Estradiol increased RAR alpha gene expression, but not that of RAR beta or RAR gamma, in a concentration-dependent manner, with the effect being maximal at 10(-10) M and less marked at higher concentrations. The effect was rapid, being detectable 1 h after and maximal 6 h after treatment with 10(-10) M estradiol. Co-treatment of cells with estradiol and antiestrogens (tamoxifen or ICI 164384, 4 x 10(-7) M for 6 h) inhibited the estradiol induction of RAR alpha gene expression, demonstrating that the effect was ER mediated. The estradiol sensitivity of the effect was underscored by the demonstration that addition of untreated serum to cells growing under steroid-depleted conditions was sufficient to induce maximal RAR alpha gene expression. This effect was totally abolished by addition of ICI 164384. In summary, the demonstration that estradiol increased RAR alpha mRNA levels in breast cancer cells supports the hypothesis that the correlation between RAR alpha and ER gene expression in breast tumors and breast cancer cell lines is due to estradiol augmentation of RAR alpha gene expression.
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PMID:Estradiol induction of retinoic acid receptors in human breast cancer cells. 826 7

Circulating estrone sulfate levels are 10-fold higher than the free estrone and estradiol levels in postmenopausal women and could form a reservoir from which the free estrogens could be synthesized in situ in breast cancer tissues. The enzymes catalyzing conversion of estrone sulfate to free estrone and estradiol are estrone sulfatase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, respectively. Selective blockade of these two enzymes may provide a means of reducing tumor estrogen levels and promoting tumor regression. The present study characterized the kinetics of several potential inhibitors of estrone sulfatase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in vitro in rat breast tumors and compared these effects to those in human tissues. The antiestrogen ICI 164384 as well as tamoxifen and its metabolites inhibit estrone sulfatase via noncompetitive mechanisms at Kis ranging from 11-1130 microM in rat breast tumors. The steroid sulfates (pregnenolone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) on the other hand, act as competitive inhibitors with Kis ranging from 4 to 6 microM. ICI 164384 and the tamoxifen metabolite 4-hydroxytamoxifen also blocked 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase at concentrations of 470 and 275 microM, respectively. In human breast tumors, 4-hydroxytamoxifen and desmethyltamoxifen blocked estrone sulfatase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase but at higher concentrations than in the rat (i.e. IC50s of 1000-2000 microM). The inhibition caused by the antiestrogens requires concentrations at least 100-fold higher than those necessary for antiestrogenic effects. Although blockade of enzyme action is significant in vitro, and could also be in vivo, the effects of antiestrogens on enzyme inhibition are likely to be outweighed by their ability to block estrogen receptor-mediated effects in patients.
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PMID:Inhibition of estrone sulfatase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by antiestrogens. 838 10

Estradiol levels in breast tumors from post-menopausal women are similar to those in pre-menopausal women even though plasma estrogens are much lower after the menopause. In situ estrogen production by the tumor provides a potential means of maintaining high estradiol levels in post-menopausal breast cancer tissue. The estrone sulfatase pathway has been proposed as the mediator of in situ estrogen production. A number of studies suggest that estrone sulfate may be converted into estradiol in breast tumors via the catalytic activity of estrone sulfatase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. However, these studies used pharmacologic levels of estrogen sulfates and have not shown that physiologic levels can support biologic effects. Accordingly, the present study examined the dose relationship of estrone sulfate to a variety of biologic endpoints in MCF-7 breast cancer cells in culture. These cells converted physiologic concentrations of estrone sulfate to quantities of free estradiol capable of stimulating cell growth. Under these conditions, the nuclear steroids observed were free estrone and estradiol. Increase in cell number after 6 days of exposure to steroid required 100 nM estrone sulfate. However, S-phase, a more sensitive measure of cell proliferation, was stimulated by 0.1 nM estrone sulfate, a clearly physiologic concentration. Stimulation of estrogen-dependent protein markers such as pS2 and progesterone receptor required much higher concentrations of estrone sulfate. These effects were mediated through the estrogen receptor since the pure anti-estrogen, ICI 164384, blocked all effects produced by estrone sulfate. While it has been suggested that anti-estrogens may partly exert their effects by inhibition of sulfatase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, this did not occur under our experimental conditions. These data provide evidence of the relevance of the estrone sulfatase pathway since biologic effects can be demonstrated in response to physiologic concentrations of estrone sulfate.
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PMID:Estrone sulfate promotes human breast cancer cell replication and nuclear uptake of estradiol in MCF-7 cell cultures. 847 38

We investigated the effect of a concomitant treatment of ICI 164384 and B-interferon (beta-IFN) on the growth of estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) and estrogen-receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer cell lines and on their steroid receptor profiles. ICI 164384 reduced cell proliferation not only in ER+ but also in ER- cell lines and completely suppressed the stimulation induced by estradiol (E2) in hormone-sensitive cell lines, MCF7 and T47D. When associated with beta-IFN, ICI 164384 increased the inhibitory effect exerted by the low concentration of beta-IFN. Moreover, ICI 164384, singly or in association with beta-IFN, did not affect ER and PgR concentration in ER- cell lines, whereas in ER+ cell lines we observed an almost total disappearance of ER and PgR. In conclusion, our study seems to indicate that, although beta-IFN is able to control the proliferation of hormone-sensitive and hormone-independent subclones, it does not further improve the antiproliferative activity of ICI 164384. In contrast, the presence of ICI 164384, which does not induce the selection of resistant subclones under the same experimental conditions in which TAM does, may improve the efficacy of low concentration of beta-IFN and prevent the development of a secondary TAM-induced resistance.
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PMID:The effect of ICI 164384 and beta-interferon on the growth and steroid receptor profile of breast cancer cell lines. 866 23

We and others previously reported that up-regulation of retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RAR alpha) RNA and protein levels is elicited by estrogen in human breast cancer cells. We set out to determine the mechanism by which estrogen up-regulates RAR alpha. Cloning of 500 bp of the human (h) RAR alpha 1 promoter has been reported previously; we obtained this 500-bp DNA sequence by PCR techniques from human genomic DNA and tested its activity in the context of a luciferase-containing reporter vector in Hep G2 cell contransactivation assays. Estradiol elicited a 6- to 8-fold increase in luciferase activity from the reporter vector driven by hRAR alpha promoter sequence between -491 and +36 bp that was dependent on the presence of contransfected estrogen receptor (ER). Analysis of various truncated versions of this promoter sequence indicated that two regions of the sequence are sensitive to estrogen stimulation. The first resides in the region -49 to -79 bp upstream from the transcription start site and conferred approximately 2-fold activation by estrogen. This region does not contain a consensus estrogen response element, and ER binding to this DNA sequence was not observed. The second responsive sequence lies at -455 to -491 bp and conferred in additional 4- to 6-fold activation by estrogen. This upstream sequence contains two A/TGGTCA half-sites; however, direct binding of ER to this sequence was not observed. Additionally, ER DNA-binding domain mutants that are not capable of binding to DNA were just as effective as wild type ER in their ability to confer estrogen responsiveness to the RAR alpha promoter, implying that ER DNA-binding ability is not required for the estrogen-induced increase in transcriptional activity. Mutation of either half-site or of an additional immediate downstream sequence in the context of the -491 to +36 bp construct reduced the luciferase activity induction by estrogen from 6-fold to 1.5- to 2-fold. Placement of the region between -455 to -491 bp upstream of an SV40 promoter-driven luciferase vector conferred approximately 20- to 30-fold stimulation of luciferase activity by estrogen in an ER-dependent manner. The ER antagonists, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, keoxifene, and ICI 164384, each acted as weak agonist via the hRAR alpha promoter in contransactivation assays, exhibiting 20-30% of the efficacy that was demonstrated by estradiol. Interestingly, upon treatment of MCF7 cells with estradiol or the ER antagonists, increased levels of RAR alpha RNA and protein were observed with the antagonists as well as with estrogen.
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PMID:Estrogen and estrogen receptor antagonists stimulate transcription from the human retinoic acid receptor-alpha 1 promoter via a novel sequence. 873 79


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