Transgenic introduction of androgen receptor into estrogen-receptor-, progesterone-receptor-, and androgen-receptor-negative breast cancer cells renders them responsive to hormonal manipulation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Estrogen-receptor (ER)-, progesterone-receptor (PR)-, and androgen-receptor (AR)-negative breast cancer cells are unaffected by treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) and an aromatase inhibitor (AI). We hypothesized that cell growth would be inhibited with DHEAS/AI treatment after successful transfection of an AR expression vector.

METHODS:

ER/PR/AR-negative breast cancer cells were transfected with an AR expression vector and treated with DHEAS/AI for 2 days. Growth inhibition of these cells was compared with that of transfected cells treated with only AI or with nontransfected cells treated with DHEAS/AI. Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS:

Cell death rates of 53.5% (P = .001) and 40.1% (P = .006) were seen in transfected cells treated with DHEAS/AI compared with controls for days 1 and 2, respectively. Nontransfected cells were unaffected by treatment.

COMMENTS:

ER/PR/AR-negative cells transfected with AR were killed by DHEAS/AI treatment, providing evidence that AR is responsible for this effect. This provides the first AR-targeted hormonal therapy for ER breast cancer.

• Authors: Jennifer R Garreau, Patrick Muller, Rodney Pommier, Suellen Pommier
• Journal: American journal of surgery (Am J Surg) Vol. 191 Issue 5 Pg. 576-80 (May 2006) ISSN: 0002-9610 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16647340 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Androgen
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Receptors, Progesterone
• Steryl-Sulfatase

Topics

• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Death (drug effects, physiology)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• In Vitro Techniques
• RNA, Messenger (genetics)
• Receptors, Androgen (genetics, metabolism)
• Receptors, Estrogen (genetics, metabolism)
• Receptors, Progesterone (genetics, metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Steryl-Sulfatase (therapeutic use)
• Transfection
• Tumor Cells, Cultured