Cultured MCF-7 Cells Research Articles

Interactions between normal mammary epithelial cells and mammary tumour cells in a model system.

Normal mammary epithelial (NME) cells and MCF-7 cells aggregate and grow as spheroids when cultured on extracellular matrix derived from Engelbreth/ Holmes/Swarth (EHS) tumour. NME cells stop dividing and differentiate but MCF-7 cells continue to proliferate, although growth is counterbalanced by cell death. In mixed cultures of NME cells and MCF-7 cells, the two cell types form mixed aggregates but then segregate to form well separated domains, often joined by only a narrow neck of cells. In these mixed cultures the growth of MCF-7 cells is inhibited by a factor secreted by NME cells into the medium.

Wortmannin inhibits the growth of mammary tumors despite the existence of a novel wortmannin-insensitive phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase.

Phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase is an important mediator of many cellular functions. The study of PtdIns 3-kinase has been facilitated by the existence of the potent irreversible inhibitor of p110 PtdIns 3-kinase, wortmannin. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between the cell growth inhibitory activity and antitumor activity of wortmannin and inhibition of PtdIns 3-kinase. PtdIns 3-kinase activity was measured in cells and tumors and the effects of wortmannin investigated. Wortmannin inhibited the growth of murine C3H and human MCF-7 mammary tumors in vivo. However, the ability of wortmannin to inhibit C3H tumor growth was not related to inhibition of tumor PtdIns 3-kinase activity. The existence of wortmannin-insensitive PtdIns 3-kinase activity was demonstrated in C3H and MCF-7 cell culture lysates and solid tumors, and normal mouse tissue homogenates. In addition to being resistant to inhibition by wortmannin, MCF-7 cell lysate total PtdIns 3-kinase activity was also resistant to five additional known inhibitors of p110 PtdIns 3-kinase. Partial purification of wortmannin-insensitive PtdIns 3-kinase from MCF-7 cell lysate showed the activity to be independent of the PtdIns 3-kinase p85 regulatory subunit. The results of the current study demonstrate that wortmannin can inhibit the growth of murine and human mammary tumors despite the presence of novel wortmannin-insensitive PtdIns 3-kinases in these tissues suggesting that some other target is responsible for wortmannin's antitumor activity.

Steroid hormones modulate H19 gene expression in both mammary gland and uterus.

H19 is an imprinted and developmentally regulated gene whose product remains apparently untranslated. In a previous study on breast adenocarcinomas, we reported that overexpression of the H19 gene was significantly correlated with the presence of steroid receptors, suggesting the putative role of hormones in H19 transcription. To determine the mode of steroid action, we have detected levels of H19 RNA synthesis during mammary gland development by in situ hybridization (ISH): two peaks of H19 transcription occur during puberty and pregnancy. Furthermore, we demonstrated by ISH that in the uterus H19 RNA synthesis is high during estrus and metestrus phases. To test steroid control of H19 transcription, ovariectomized and adrenalectomized mice were supplemented, 1 week after surgery, with 17-beta-estradiol (E2, 20 microg/kg/day), progesterone (P, 1 mg/kg/day) or corticosterone (B, 0.3 mg/ kg/day) for 2 weeks. According to ISH data, E2 and to a lesser extent B stimulated H19 transcription in the uterus, whereas P inhibited it. To confirm the in vivo results, in vitro experiments were performed using cultures of MCF-7 cells (a hormone-sensitive mammary cell line). E2 stimulated the endogenous H19 gene of this cell line and tamoxifen inhibited this effect. Furthermore, we performed transient cotransfections in MCF-7, in HBL-100 (another hormone-sensitive mammary cell line) and in BT-20 (a hormone-insensitive mammary cell line) with various constructs of ERalpha (WT or mutated) and PR-A, in presence or absence of steroid hormones. We demonstrated that ERalpha up-regulated the H19 promoter in MCF-7 and in HBL-100, whereas PR-A did not have any effect per se. Moreover, in MCF-7, PR-A antagonized clearly the ERalpha-mediated promoter enhancement, but in HBL-100 this counteracting effect on the ERalpha up-regulation was not found. Interestingly, the same experiments performed in BT-20 cell line provided very similar results as those obtained in MCF-7 cells, with a clear down-regulation mediated by PR-A on the H19 promoter. All these in vitro data are in agreement with in vivo results. In addition, data obtained with ERalpha mutants indicate that H19 promoter activation is both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent. We have thus demonstrated that H19 gene expression is controlled by steroid hormones; furthermore, this gene is highly expressed in hormone-sensitive organs when the hormonal stimulation is accompanied with a morphological repair.

Influence of Temperature on Radiation-Induced Inhibition of DNA Supercoiling

The influence of subnormal temperatures (2, 15 and 28 degrees C) on the effects of radiation in MCF-7 cell cultures was studied using the fluorescent (halo) nucleoid assay. Increasing the propidium iodide (PI) concentration (0.5-7.5 microgram/ml PI) resulted in relaxation, i.e. in increasing nucleoid area; higher concentrations up to 50 microgram/ml caused rewinding that resulted in nucleoid contraction. Rewinding was inhibited by X irradiation (2, 4 and 8 Gy) in a dose-dependent way. Incubation at subnormal temperature did not influence the nucleoid area but did reduce radiation-induced inhibition of rewinding after 4 Gy. The low temperature (2 degrees C) during rather than prior to irradiation appeared to protect from radiation-induced inhibition of nucleoid rewinding. Decreased temperature during irradiation may change the conditions so as to reduce DNA- matrix damage induced by radiation.

Overexpression of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) downregulates Bcl-2 and promotes apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2), a classical transforming factor, mitogen, and survival factor in multiple cell types, and has a paradoxic role in mammary epithelial cell transformation and proliferation. We have also demonstrated that recombinant FGF-2 uncharacteristically promotes cell death in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of FGF-2 overexpression on survival in the same MCF-7 cells. In eight breast cancer cell lines and two nontransformed mammary epithelial cell lines, we demonstrated that high levels of Bcl-2 are only expressed in cells with undetectable levels of FGF-2 on western blot. In retrovirally transduced MCF-7 cells expressing both cytoplasm- and nucleus-localizing FGF-2 species and ones expressing only cytoplasm-localizing FGF-2 species, Bcl-2 levels were strongly decreased at both the mRNA and protein levels. Immunoprecipitation of Bax demonstrated a decreased association of Bax with Bcl-2 in these cells. Levels of Bax did not correlate with expression of FGF-2 in the 10 cell lines or in MCF-7 cells. The clonogenic potential of MCF-7 cells in tissue culture was decreased by the expression of FGF-2 and was additively suppressed by the chemotherapeutic agents etoposide and 5-fluorouracil in a dose and time dependent manner. MCF-7 cells overexpressing FGF-2 had a greater rate of programmed cell death at baseline and in response to etoposide and 5-fluorouracil in a TUNEL assay by immunofluorescent microphotography and by flow cytometric quantitation. The pro-apoptotic effect of FGF-2 overexpression on the chemosensitivity of these cells was confirmed by quantitative morphologic determination. These data demonstrate that the expression of FGF-2 downregulates Bcl-2 and promotes programmed cell death in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

A human breast cancer model for the study of telomerase inhibitors based on a new biotinylated-primer extension assay.

Telomerase is an RNA-dependent polymerase that synthesizes telomeric DNA (TTAGGG)n repeats. The overall goal of our work was to establish human cancer models that can be used to design clinical trials with telomerase inhibitors. The objectives of this study were (1) to set up a human breast cancer system that allows evaluation of the effects of telomerase inhibitors in cultured cells using a non-amplified telomerase assay and (2) to test this system using two drugs (cisplatin and TMPyP4) that affect the telomerase expression in breast cancer cells in culture. We first compared the telomerase activity in a variety of human breast cancer cell lines to that of other tumour types using a new biotinylated-primer extension assay. Our method, based on a non-amplified primer extension assay shows the direct incorporation of 32P-labelled nucleotides induced by telomerase on human telomeric primers. The 32P-dGTP labelled telomerase-extended 5′-biotinylated (TTAGGG)3 primer can subsequently be separated using streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. As compared to other non-amplified method, we showed that this procedure improved the characterization and the quantification of the banding pattern resulting from telomerase extension by reducing the radioactive background. Using this method, we observed that telomerase activity varies markedly in a panel of 39 human cancer cell lines. For example, MCF7 breast cancer cells in culture showed intermediate telomerase activity corresponding to 33.8 ± 3.4% of that of the HeLa cells (reference cell line). Similarly, the telomere length varied with each cell line (average: 6.24 ± 6.16). No correlation between the level of telomerase and telomere length was observed, suggesting that a high processivity is not required to maintain telomeres and that, in some cell lines, another mechanism of telomere elongation can maintain telomere length. From this study, we selected MCF7 and MX1 models that showed reproducible telomerase activity and a relatively limited telomere length for the testing of potential telomere–telomerase interacting agents. Using cisplatin and a new porphyrin-derived compound TMPyP4, we showed that our model was able to detect a down-regulation of the telomerase activity in MCF7 cells in culture and in a human MX1 tumour xenografts. Based on these results, a breast cancer model for evaluating telomerase and telomere interactive agents is proposed. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign

Secretion of prosaposin, a multifunctional protein, by breast cancer cells

Western blotting and immunodetection with three antibodies were used to probe conditioned media of breast cancer cells (MDA231, MDA435, MCF-7) for prosaposin, a lysosomal protein that occurs in milk. It was readily detected in media from these cells, and from that of an sv40-transformed mammary epithelial cell, HBL100, but not from medium of human neural tumor cells (SK-N-MC). In cultures of MCF-7 cells, the prosaposin pattern of secretion over time closely resembled that of procathepsin D, another lysosomal protein occurring in milk. Supplementing medium with 17β-estradiol (0.1–100 nM) dose dependently increased secretion of both proteins after 48 h without changes in cell viability. The influence of 17β-estradiol on secretion could play a role in the trophic activity of prosaposin in cellular differentiation and cell death protection. In concert with other lysosomal proteins in the tumor environment, such as procathepsin D, prosaposin may be a factor in eliminating barriers to tumor metastasis by facilitating hydrolysis of membrane glycolipids. The number of milk proteins known to be secreted by breast cancer cells is growing. There is evidence that at least some of these may be secreted in an endocrine manner in the normal, non-lactating breast.

Estrogen-dependent regulation of prolidase activity in breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Prolidase [EC 3.4.13.9] plays an important role in the recycling of proline for collagen synthesis and cell growth. The increase in the enzyme activity is correlated with the increased intensity of collagen turnover, thus reflecting the intensity of collagen metabolism. Since estrogens alter collagen metabolism, it can be assumed that the changes may be reflected by prolidase activity. The effects of estrogen and antiestrogen (tamoxifen on the prolidase and collagenase activities and collagen biosynthesis) were measured in the estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cell line. Estradiol stimulated collagen biosynthesis and extracellular prolidase and collagenase activities in cultured MCF-7 cells without an effect on collagen accumulation in the extracellular matrix produced by these cells. On the other hand, tamoxifen inhibited the estrogen-dependent stimulatory effect on collagen biosynthesis but did not inhibit the stimulatory effect of estrogen on prolidase and collagenase activities. The inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on estrogen-dependent stimulation of collagen synthesis in MCF-7 cells and lack of its effect on estrogen-dependent stimulation of prolidase and collagenase activities suggest that both processes (collagen synthesis and degradation) are independently regulated in MCF-7 cells, possibly through antagonist, agonist and other estrogen receptor-independent actions of tamoxifen. Increased extracellular prolidase activity in estrogen-stimulated MCF-7 cells indicates potential diagnostic value of tissue prolidase in determining the ER status of breast cancer.

New bioactive flavonoids and stilbenes in cubé resin insecticide.

Fractionation of cubé resin from Lonchocarpus utilus and L. urucu roots led to the isolation and identification of 11 minor flavonoids and stilbenes containing the gem-dimethylpyran moiety or a dihydrodiol derivative thereof. The eight new compounds were as follows: the isoflavonoid cis-4'',5''-dihydro-4'',5' '-dihydroxylonchocarpusone (2); four (2S)-6-(gamma, gamma-dimethylallyl)-6'',6''-dimethylpyran[2'',3'':7, 8]flavanones with substituents of 5-hydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxy (3), 5, 3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy (4), 5,4'-dihydroxy-3'-methoxy (5), and 3', 4'-dimethoxy (6); and three 6'',6''-dimethylpyran[2'',3'':3', 4']stilbenes with 4-hydroxy-5'-methoxy (9), 3,5'-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy (10) and 3,4,5-trimethoxy (11) substitution patterns. Structure-activity relationships for inhibition of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity (bovine heart electron transport particles) and phorbol ester-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity (cultured MCF-7 cells) generally parallel those for cytotoxicity (MCF-7 and Hepa 1clc7 cells).

Decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase after estradiol treatment of MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells

MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cultures grown in the presence of 17- β estradiol form solid, multicellular nodules, a process that reflects changes in cell–substrate adhesions and loss of growth inhibition. We examined the effects of estradiol on the status of tyrosine phosphorylation in focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and the association of FAK with paxillin using immunoprecipitations and then probing western blots for FAK, phosphotyrosine, and paxillin. Culture of MCF-7 cells for seven days in the presence of 1 nM E 2 resulted in decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK compared to controls. The estradiol-induced effect was blocked by 100 nM of the estrogen receptor antagonist 4-hydroxytamoxifen, indicating dephosphorylation of FAK is an estrogen receptor-mediated event. FAK immunoprecipitated from either estradiol or DMSO-treated cells phosphorylated the exogenous substrate poly(Glu,Tyr), suggesting that the potential kinase activity of FAK was not changed by estradiol. Estradiol treatment also resulted in a reduced association between FAK and paxillin. The decreased phosphorylation levels and reduced association between FAK and paxillin may be important steps leading to the loss of stable focal contacts and loss of growth inhibition during MCF-7 nodulation.

EB1089, a synthetic analogue of vitamin D, induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells in vivo and in vitro.

1. Effects of the synthetic vitamin D analogue EB1089 on indices of apoptosis in cultured human breast cancer cells and in nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary tumours in vivo were investigated. 2. At a dose of 0.5 microg kg(-1) body weight, EB1089 caused significant inhibition of tumour progression over the 28 day treatment period in the absence of a significant increase in serum calcium concentration. Higher doses of EB1089 (1 and 2.5 microg kg(-1)) produced substantial regression of the experimental tumours which was accompanied by a striking change in the histological appearance of tumours consistent with induction of tumour cell death. 3. Fragmentation of genomic DNA is a characteristic feature of apoptosis. With the terminal transferase (TdT) assay, 3' DNA breaks indicative of DNA fragmentation were detected histochemically in mammary tumour cells from animals treated with EB1089 (2.5 microg kg(-1)) for 14 days. 4. Effects of the vitamin D analogue on induction of apoptosis were examined in vitro using the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. Using the TUNEL method, positive nuclear staining indicative of DNA fragmentation was detected in cells treated for 4 days with 10 nM EB1089. Apoptosis was also quantitated using a cell death ELISA which revealed a time and dose dependent induction of apoptosis by EB1089. 5. The effects of EB1089 on the expression of two oncoproteins which may regulate apoptosis, bcl-2 and bax were examined by Western analysis. In MCF-7 cell cultures treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 or EB1089 (1 x 10(-8) M), bcl-2 protein levels were decreased in a time-dependent manner relative to control levels. In contrast bax protein was not markedly regulated by these compounds. Densitometric analyses indicate that the vitamin D compounds lower the bcl-2/bax ratio favouring increased susceptibility of MCF-7 cells to undergo apoptosis. 6. These results suggest that the synthetic vitamin D analogue EB1089 may promote tumour regression by inducing active cell death.

The antiproliferative action of a melphalan hexapeptide with collagenase-cleavable site.

The objective of the present study was to examine the relevance of collagenase in the antitumor action of a melphalan peptide (MHP) with a collagenase-cleavable sequence. The question was addressed as to whether collagenase may act as an activator or a target in the antiproliferative mechanism of MHP. Melphalan was inserted into peptides representing the sequence Pro-Gln-Gly-Ile-Ala.Gly of the collagenase-cleavable site in collagens. Changes in growth and collagenase IV activities of HT-1080, HT-29, HT-168, and MCF-7 cell cultures were investigated. The present investigations provide data indicating that Pro-Gln-Gly-Ile-Mel-Gly (melphalan hexapeptide, MHP) is a substrate for both bacterial and 72-kDa type IV collagenases and that in this way it can generate Ile-Mel-Gly (melphalan tripeptide, MTP) of higher cytotoxic potency. Indeed, the formation of MTP was detected in the conditioned medium of HT-1080, a collagenase IV-producing human fibrosarcoma. In a comparison of equimolar concentrations of melphalan and its two peptide derivatives (MHP and MTP), superior antiproliferative action of MTP was seen in HT-29, HT-1080, and HT-168 tumor cell cultures. However, the relatively modest cytostatic actions of MHP were increased when bacterial collagenase was added to the cell cultures. After melphalan treatment, reduced levels of both 92 and 72-kDa type IV collagenases were seen in the HT-1080 cell cultures. However, the reduction of collagenase activity and the cell counts did not run parallel in the MTP- or MHP-treated cultures; indeed, collagenase activity related to cell numbers showed an elevated level. As the conversion of MHP to the more toxic MTP was detected in the presence of collagenases, it is possible that collagenase-directed activation of prodrugs may be a promising approach for the development of more selective cytostatic drugs against malignant tumors with high collagenase activities.

Length increase of the side chain of idoxifene does not improve its antagonistic potency in breast-cancer cell lines.

Linkage of specific residues onto steroidal estrogens through a long aliphatic side chain leads to "pure antiestrogens" devoid of residual estrogenic activity. Therefore, we assessed whether an increase in the length of the side chain of the triphenylethylenic antiestrogen idoxifene might increase its antagonistic potency. Culture of MCF-7 and tamoxifen-resistant variant RTX6 cells in the presence of CB 7675, a (CH2)8 derivative of idoxifene [(CH2)2], ruled out this possibility. This compound partly blocked MCF-7 cell growth only at 10(-6) M to almost the same extent as tamoxifen and failed to inhibit the growth of RTX6 cells, whereas the pure antiestrogen RU 58 668 was effective on both cell lines at much lower concentration. This absence of improvement was reflected in the observation of an efficiency for down-regulating progesterone receptor no better than that of tamoxifen. Pure antiestrogens are known to down-regulate the estrogen receptor, whereas triphenylethylenic antiestrogens up-regulate the receptor; CB 7675 behaves as the latter in agreement with its lack of strong antagonistic activity.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-(hydroxyalkyl)estradiols and related compounds.

A series of synthetic estrogens containing hydroxyalkyl side chains at the C-4 position of the A ring were designed as metabolically stable analogs of 4-hydroxyestradiol, a catechol estrogen. These synthetic steroids would facilitate investigations on the potential biological role of catechol estrogens and also enable further examination of the structural and electronic constraints on the A ring in the interaction of estrogens with the estrogen receptor. Catechol estrogens are implicated as possible causative agents in estrogen-induced tumorigenesis. 4-Hydroxyestradiol has weaker affinity for the estrogen receptor and exhibits lower estrogenic activity in vivo; on the other hand, the catechol estrogens are prone to further oxidative metabolism and can form reactive intermediates. This report describes the synthesis and initial biochemical evaluation of 4-(hydroxyalkyl)estrogens and 4-(aminoalkyl)estradiols. The 4-(hydroxyalkyl)estrogens were prepared by oxidative hydroboration of 4-alkenylestradiols. The alkenylestradiols were obtained via a Stille cross-coupling between a MOM-protected 4-bromoestradiol and an alkenylstannane. The (4-aminoalkyl)estrogens were prepared from the hydroxyalkyl derivatives with phthalimide under Mitsunobu conditions. The substituted estradiols were evaluated for estrogen receptor binding activity in MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells, and 4-(hydroxymethyl)estradiol 1 exhibited the highest affinity with an apparent EC50 value of 364 nM. The relative activities for mRNA induction of the pS2 gene in MCF-7 cell cultures by the 4-(hydroxyalkyl)estrogens closely parallel the relative binding affinities. 4-(Hydroxymethyl)estradiol 1 did not stimulate the growth of MCF-7 cells at concentrations up to 1 microM. Thus, 4-(hydroxymethyl)estradiol 1 exhibited similar estrogen receptor affinity as the catechol estrogen, 4-hydroxyestradiol, and may prove useful in the examination of the biological effects of 4-hydroxyestrogens.

Presence of functional luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) receptors in human breast cell lines: implications supporting the premise that hCG protects women against breast cancer.

We investigated MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines and immortalized mammary epithelial HBL-100 cells for the presence of functional LH/hCG receptors. The results revealed that all three breast cell lines contain LH/hCG receptor mRNA transcripts and receptor proteins that can bind 125I-hCG. The MCF-7 cells, however, contain higher levels than the others. Culturing MCF-7 cells with highly purified hCG resulted in a dose- and time-dependent significant decrease in steady-state estradiol receptor mRNA and protein levels as compared to controls, with the maximal decrease occurring after 4 h of culture with 10 ng/ml hCG. The studies on cell growth demonstrated that hCG treatment in the presence of minimal or no fetal bovine serum had a time-dependent significant inhibitory effect on MCF-7 and HBL-100, but not on MDA-MB-231 cells. In summary, our results demonstrate that human breast cell lines contain functional LH/hCG receptors. The hCG effects in MCF-7 cells are consistent with a premise that hCG protects women against breast cancer.

Evaluation of the anticancer action of a permanently charged tamoxifen derivative, tamoxifen methiodide: an MRI study

The anticancer action of a permanently charged tamoxifen derivative, tamoxifen methiodide (TMI), was assessed in a model of breast cancer. In addition, analysis of MCF-7 cells in cultures was performed to consider the anticancer mechanism of TMI. Nude mice were implanted with MCF-7 human cancer cells in the ventral fat pad at the level of the milkline (breast). The effect of TMI (administered as a slow-release pellet) and placebo were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as by histological evaluation. The action of TMI and tamoxifen on cell growth of MCF-7 cells in cultures was also assessed. TMI induced tumor regression, while placebo-treated animals manifested tumor masses that grew monotonically throughout the experimental period (25 days). MRI revealed and histopathology confirmed that TMI treatment resulted in tumor necrosis which (1) had a faster onset; (2) was more extensive; and (3) was more intense than that observed by partial estrogen ablation (placebo-treated animals). Studies with MCF-7 cells in culture suggested that tamoxifen and TMI are equipotent in vitro. Given various reports that TMI is more potent than tamoxifen in vivo and that the anticancer efficacy between TMI and tamoxifen cannot be explained by differences in estrogen receptor interaction or effects on MCF-7S cell in culture, other mechanism may differentially contribute to the anticancer action of TMI.

Mis-sorting of procathepsin D in metastogenic tumor cells is not due to impaired synthesis of the phosphomannosyl signal.

Synthesis, processing and sorting of pro-cathepsin D (proCD), the precursor of a lysosomal protease involved in tumor-cell proliferation and invasion, were compared in various human tumor cell lines. In cultures of HepG2, HT29 and MCF7 cells the extracellular CD activity was up to 10 times higher than in cultures of U937 and MG63 cells. Ammonium chloride, which disrupts the pH-dependent receptor-mediated transport of lysosomal enzymes, exerted a differential effect on the secretion of CD activity in these cells. As judged by metabolic labeling and immunoprecipitation, the secretion of CD synthesized in 24 hr in MG63 and U937 cells was enhanced 4- to 10-fold by ammonium chloride, while it was only slightly increased in HepG2, HT29 and MCF7 cells. In all tumor cells examined, a portion of proCD was segregated into the endosomal-lysosomal pathway in the presence of ammonium chloride. However, the intralysosomal maturation of CD was only inhibited by this drug in HT29 and MCF7 cells. The Golgi-associated processing of proCD, leading to the synthesis of uncovered phosphomannosyl groups, proceeded with comparable efficiency in all tumor cells examined. These results suggest that hypersecretion of proCD in HepG2, HT29 and MCF7 cells is linked to transport mechanisms, as yet unidentified, which are independent of mannose-6-phosphate.

Distribution of estrogen receptor heterogeneity in growing MCF-7 cells measured by quantitative microscopy

The existence of interactive subpopulations is a biological feature that can modulate the proliferation of tumor cells. The hormone-responsive breast cancer cell line MCF-7 has been described as heterogeneous in terms of density. In this study we describe a quantitative image analysis methodology that we developed for the in situ detection of different subpopulations in MCF-7 cell cultures. Using this technology, we demonstrate the heterogeneity of the MCF-7 cell line in terms of both nuclear size and estrogen-receptor content. Analysis of the organization (topography) of the different subpopulations in culture reveals a nonrandom distribution of cells. When studying the development of these cell subpopulations as a function of time of culture, we observe modifications of their topography associated with an increase of estrogen-receptor-expressing cells. Moreover, the use of cluster analysis allows study of the local organization of these subpopulations. These changes appear to be independent of cell proliferation.

Antineoplastic drugs that interfere with iron metabolism in cancer cells

Normal iron metabolism can be perturbed with iron chelators, toxic metals that bind to transferrin, toxic metals bound to transferrin or antineoplastic agents covalently linked to transferrin. These agents cause significant inhibition of tumor cell growth in cell culture and have been shown to have significant in vivo antineoplastic activity. Cell culture studies showed that deferoxamine mesylate inhibits cell growth and division in both the MCF-7 human breast and HeLa human cervical carcinoma cell lines. Animal studies demonstrated that when deferoxamine mesylate is injected intravenously into rats that are on a low iron diet, there is a significant reduction in the growth of 13762NF mammary adenocarcinomas. Gallium, indium and the antineoplastic agent cisplatin were bound to the iron binding site of transferrin and inhibit the growth of malignant carcinoma cell lines. Gallium-transferrin and indium-transferrin were at least 10 times more inhibitory to both MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines than their free salts. Further cell culture studies demonstrated that cisplatin-transferrin complexes act synergistically with doxorubicin to inhibit the growth of cultured MCF-7 cells. In a Phase I clinical trial of cisplatintransferrin complex there was a 36% (four of 11 patients) response rate in breast cancer patients with advanced disease. In a second clinical study the sequential administration of deferoxamine mesylate (2 days at 6 g/day in 8 hrs), cisplatin-transferrin complex (7 days at 500 mg/day) and FAC (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide at 450, 45 and 450 mg/m 2, respectively) to advanced breast cancer patients resulted in partial responses in seven of eight patients treated. Future work will concentrate on substituting transferrin based agents with daunorubicin or doxorubicin attached to the surface of the transferrin, and gallium or indium bound to the iron binding site, to increase efficacy of the second component of the sequential combination chemotherapy.

Cell-cycle arrest, micronucleus formation, and cell death in growth inhibition of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by tamoxifen and cisplatin.

The induction of cell death along with cell-cycle arrest is one of the foremost mechanisms regulating cell growth. In the human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 we investigated two chemotherapeutic agents, the antiestrogen tamoxifen and the DNA-damaging drug cisplatin, for the relative contribution of these mechanisms to growth inhibition in culture. Growth kinetics and flow cytometry confirmed that tamoxifen at 1 microM acts mainly by arresting cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Compared to untreated controls, only a few more cells were detached from the monolayer and dead after a 5-day incubation. On the other hand, cisplatin at 1 microM did not induce the well-defined G2/M-arrest reported for other cell types, but resulted in a marked increase in the rate of cell death. A morphological feature observed, especially with cisplatin-treated MCF-7 cells, was the formation of numerous micronuclei (in up to 30% of the cells) and an increase in the number of binucleate cells (up to 20%). In both tamoxifen- and cisplatin- treated cultures, cell death appeared to occur by apoptosis, as indicated morphologically by cellular and nuclear shrinkage accompanied by DNA-condensation and ultimately the formation of DNA containing apoptotic bodies. However, no internucleosomal DNA degradation or endogenous endonuclease activity could be detected in the cells of the monolayer or in the mainly dead and detached cells of the culture supernatant. DNA fragmentation was only observed when isolated MCF-7 nuclei were incubated with exogenous endonucleases. However, as determined by reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction amplification, MCF-7 cells do express the mRNA for DNase I, an endonuclease known to be involved in apoptosis. Thus, apoptosis is part of the growth-inhibitory process and occurs without apparent internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cell cultures.