Estrogen-induced Carcinogenesis Research Articles

Analysis of the Abasic Sites in Breast Cancer Patients With 5 Year Postoperative Treatment Without Recurrence in Taiwan.

This prospective study aimed to investigate estrogen-induced carcinogenesis by assessing the background levels of abasic sites (apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, AP sites) in Taiwanese breast cancer patients following 5 years of postoperative treatment without recurrence (5-year survivors) (n = 70). The study also sought to compare the extent of these DNA lesions with those found in healthy controls and in breast cancer patients prior to treatment. Abasic sites were measured using an aldehyde reactive probe and quantified as the total number of abasic sites per total nucleotides. Characterization of the abasic sites in subjects recruited for this study was conducted using the abasic site cleavage assay using putrescine or T7 exonuclease (T7 Exo) and/or exonuclease III (Exo III). The number of abasic sites detected in 5year survivors (26.7 ± 10.2 per 106 total nucleotides, n = 70) was significantly reduced by 46.9% compared to those in breast cancer patients before treatment (50.3 ± 59.2 per 106 total nucleotides, P < 0.001), and was similar to the levels observed in healthy controls (23.3 ± 13.5 per 106 total nucleotides, P > 0.05). Further investigation into the specific types of abasic sites indicated that the number of abasic sites excisable by putrescine in controls, breast cancer patients, and 5-year survivors were 63.3%, 78.6%, and 67.7%, respectively. These findings suggest the involvement of oxidative stress rather than depurination/depyrimidination of DNA adducts in the formation of abasic sites. Further analyses were performed using exonuclease cleavage assay to characterize the specific types of abasic sites including 5'-cleaved, 3'-cleaved, intact, and residual abasic sites. Results demonstrated that the proportion of residual abasic sites detected in controls, breast cancer patients, and 5-year survivors were estimated to be 32.7%, 48.8%, and 34.0%, respectively. Overall, these findings suggest clear evidence of treatment-related effects on the reduction of levels of abasic sites as well as on the profile of abasic sites in 5year survivors.

Imbalances in the disposition of estrogen and naphthalene in breast cancer patients: a potential biomarker of breast cancer risk

Elevation of naphthoquinones and estrogen quinones, which are reactive metabolites of naphthalene and estrogen, is thought to be an important indicator of naphthalene- and estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. We compared background levels of naphthalene and estrogen quinone-derived adducts in serum albumin (Alb) from 143 women with breast cancer and 119 healthy controls. Cysteinyl adducts of naphthoquinones, including 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NPQ) and 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NPQ), and estrogen quinones, including estrogen-2,3-quinones (E2-2,3-Q) and estrogen-3,4-quinones (E2-3,4-Q), were characterized after adduct cleavage. Levels of estrogen quinones and naphthoquinones were positively correlated in healthy controls, but not in breast cancer patients (p < 0.05). Compared with controls, levels of 1,2-NPQ and E2-3,4-Q were elevated by two- to ten-fold in cancer patients (p < 0.001). To explore the correlation between estrogen- and naphthalene-derived quinone adducts and disease status, we performed linear discriminant analysis of the ratio of 1,2-NPQ-Alb to (1,2-NPQ-Alb plus 1,4-NPQ-Alb) versus the ratio of E2-3,4-Q-2-S-Alb to (E2-2,3-Q-4-S-Alb plus E2-3,4-Q-2-S-Alb) in patients and controls. These two groups were separable using albumin adducts of estrogen quinones and naphthoquinones, with 99.6% overall correct classification rate (overall accuracy). The findings of this study suggest that differences in the disposition of estrogen and naphthalene, and the subsequent elevation of cumulative E2-3,4-Q and 1,2-NPQ may serve as biomarkers of breast cancer risk.

Abstract P6-07-05: Estrogen-induced carcinogenesis of normal breast cells via regulating NRF2-mediated pathway

Abstract Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and is known to be associated with steroid estrogen (E2). The importance of E2 in the etiology of breast cancer has been widely recognized. Most postmenopausal breast cancer is E2-dependent, mainly due to the continuous growth and proliferation of potent biological E2. E2-induced oxidative stress is involved in this carcinogenic process. The objective of the present study was to characterize the mechanism of E2-induced carcinogenesis of normal breast cells.Methods: MCF-10A and MCF-12A cells were treated with different doses of E2 for 48h, the cells were harvested and extracted for MTT assay to detect cell viability. MCF-10A and MCF-12A cells were treated with E2 for up to 48h. The 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OhdG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage were measured using the Oxiselect Oxidative DNA damage ELISA kit and LDH assay kits, respectively. The Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit FITC and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were used to detect cell apoptosis. Colony formation and migration assays were performed to examine the effect on colony formation and migration of cells by E2. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) status was measured using the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) method. Levels of oxidative stress markers were determined by measuring total superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) using commercial kits. Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR were conducted to respectively evaluate protein and mRNA expressions of the nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (NRF2), HO-1 and NQO1.Results: In this study, we explored the E2-induced carcinogenesis of normal breast cells and uncovered the signaling pathways involved in these processes. Our results demonstrate that 5nM E2 treatment induces cell viability, colony formation, and migration, reduces cell apoptosis. The results of LDH and 8- OhdG tests reveal that E2 could reduce LDH and 8-ohdg levels. The results of ROS level and related oxidative stress indicators identity that E2 could reduce the expression of ROS, SOD, GPX, CAT, and TAC. Furthermore, the Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR results show that E2 could induce the expression of NRF2, HO-1, and NQO1.Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggest that E2-induced breast carcinogenesis via induction of NRF2-mediated pathways.Keywords: Estrogen, MCF-10A, MCF-12A, ROS, NRF2. Funding: Guangdong Natural Science Foundation No. 2017A030313719;Foundation Project of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. XKP2019002. Citation Format: Dandan Chen, Yuzhu Zhang, Ling Zhu, Renxiong Wei, Qianjun Chen. Estrogen-induced carcinogenesis of normal breast cells via regulating NRF2-mediated pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-07-05.

Abstract DP-015: BIOTINYLATED ESTROGENS A NOVEL TOOL FOR EARLY DETECTION OF ADDUCT IN OVARIAN CANCER

Abstract Elevated estrogens exert their carcinogenic effects by at least three different mechanisms; they promote cell proliferation by transcriptional regulation of estrogen responsive genes, cause generation of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals, and directly react with DNA and form potentially mutagenic adducts. However, unbalanced estrogen metabolism has been linked to development of several malignant diseases including breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer and has been identified as a risk factor for these cancers. The metabolic breakdown of estogens is regulated by a series of reactions mediated by hepatic and peripheral enzymes that balances the induction and reduction of cellular stress. An imbalance in this enzymes and processes can lead to highly reactive catechol estrogen metabolites that can react with DNA, form carcinogenic DAN-adducts and lesions. Although several studies established a connection between estrogen-induced DNA damage and carcinogenesis, the underlying molecular mechanisms have been difficult to study because of the technical challenges in detecting and analyzing the variety of different DNA lesions that are formed by estrogen compounds. Moreover, detection and analysis of these adducts are important to directly monitor estrogen metabolites induced cellular responses in the cells. Towards this, we developed a novel method using biotinylated-estrogens that allows immunodetection of estrogen-induced DNA adducts by Slot-blot and single-cell molecular combing and proximity ligation assays. Using these modified estrogens we first time quantitatively detected these adducts on DNA by immune Slot-blot techniques and on DNA fibers. Furthermore, similar to other environmental carcinogens estrogens activates replication associated DNA damage responses and induces chromosomal instability. Hence, first time our studies demonstrate that biotin-labeled estrogens could be a powerful tool to detect estrogen adducts and to probe associated DNA damage responses and cellular responses. Citation Format: Kaushlendra Tripathi, Chinnadurai Mani, David W. Clark, Komaraiah Palle. BIOTINYLATED ESTROGENS A NOVEL TOOL FOR EARLY DETECTION OF ADDUCT IN OVARIAN CANCER [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 12th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 13-15, 2018; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2019;25(22 Suppl):Abstract nr DP-015.

Carcinogenic potential of fluorinated estrogens in mammary tumorigenesis

Fluorination preventing metabolic hydroxylation of 17β-estradiol (E2) was applied to investigate the mechanisms underlying estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. Either 2-fluoro-17β-estradiol (2-FE2) or 4-fluoro-17β-estradiol (4-FE2) was administered subcutaneously for 52 weeks to August Copenhagen Irish (ACI) rats, the preferred animal model for human breast cancer. 4-FE2 induced frequent mammary tumors whereas 2-FE2 did not. The cumulative incidence of mammary tumors in rats treated with 4-FE2 was comparable to that observed with E2. The carcinogenic results were supported by histological examination of mammary glands of fluorinated estrogen-treated ACI rats. To evaluate the estrogenic potential of the fluorinated estrogens, 2-FE2 or 4-FE2 was administrated subcutaneously to ovariectomized rats. Both 4-FE2 and 2-FE2 showed high uterotrophic potency. Our results indicate that estrogenic potential may not be the sole factor driving mammary tumorigenesis. Since fluorination inhibits metabolic hydroxylation of E2 at the substituted position, the carcinogenic effect may occur through the metabolic activation of 2-hydroxylated E2, in combination with the compound’s estrogenic potency.

Novel insight in estrogen homeostasis and bioactivity in the ACI rat model of estrogen-induced mammary gland carcinogenesis.

Despite being widely used to investigate 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced mammary gland (MG) carcinogenesis and prevention thereof, estrogen homeostasis and its significance in the female August Copenhagen Irish (ACI) rat model is unknown. Thus, levels of 12 estrogens including metabolites and conjugates were determined mass spectrometrically in 38 plasmas and 52 tissues exhibiting phenotypes ranging from normal to palpable tumor derived from a representative ACI study using two different diets. In tissues, 40 transcripts encoding proteins involved in estrogen (biotrans)formation, ESR1-mediated signaling, proliferation and oxidative stress were analyzed (TaqMan PCR). Influence of histo(patho)logic phenotypes and diet on estrogen and transcript levels was analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and explanatory variables influencing levels and bioactivity of estrogens in tissues were identified by multiple linear regression models. Estrogen profiles in tissue and plasma and the influence of Hsd17b1 levels on intra-tissue levels of E2 and E1 conclusively indicated intra-mammary formation of E2 in ACI tumors by HSD17B1-mediated conversion of E1. Proliferation in ACI tumors was influenced by Egfr, Igf1r, Hgf and Met levels. 2-MeO-E1, the only oxidative estrogen metabolite detected above 28-42 fmol/g, was predominately observed in hyperplastic tissues and intra-tissue conversion of E1 seemed to contribute to its levels. The association of the occurrence of 2-MeO-E1 with higher levels of oxidative stress observed in hyperplastic and tumor tissues remained equivocal. Thus, the present study provides mechanistic explanation for previous and future results observed in the ACI model.

Effect of Natural Compounds on Catechol Estrogen-Induced Carcinogenesis

The hydroxylation of estradiol results in the formation of catechol estrogens such as 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) and 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OHE2). These catechol estrogens are further oxidized to quinone metabolites by peroxidases or cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes. Catechol estrogens contribute to hormone-induced carcinogenesis by generating DNA adducts or reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, many of the natural products found in living organisms have been reported to show protective effects against carcinogenesis induced by catechol estrogens. Although some compounds have been reported to increase the activity of catechol estrogens via oxidation to quinone metabolites, many natural products decreased the activity of catechol estrogens by inhibiting DNA adduct formation, ROS production, or oxidative cell damage. Here we focus specifically on the chemopreventive effects of these natural compounds against carcinogenesis induced by catechol estrogens.

Potential Impact of COMT-rs4680 G > A Gene Polymorphism in Coronary Artery Disease.

Purpose: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays a central role in DNA repair and estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. The nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 4 G > A or Val108 > 158Met or rs4680 G > A influences COMT enzyme activity. The three phenotypes of the COMT enzyme activities include COMT A/A with low enzyme activity, COMT A/G with medium enzyme activity and COMT G/G with high enzyme activity. The Met allele is associated with low enzymatic activity resulting in higher levels of prefrontal dopamine. Conversely, the Val allele is associated with high enzymatic activity and lower levels of prefrontal dopamine. The Met allele has been associated with several psychiatric disorders such as panic disorder. Many recent epidemiologic studies have investigated the association between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and coronary artery diseases risk, but the results are inconclusive. Therefore our study was aimed to explore the association between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and the risk of coronary artery disease in India. Methology: This study was conducted on 100 clinically confirmed cases of coronary artery diseases and 100 healthy controls. COMT Val158Met genotyping was performed by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR). Results: A significant correlation was observed in the COMT Val158Met genotype distribution between the coronary artery disease cases and healthy controls (p = 0.008). The frequencies of all three genotypes, GG, GA, AA, reported in the CAD patients were 10%, 70%, and 20%, and 30%, 60%, and 10% in the healthy controls respectively. An increased risk of coronary artery disease was observed in the codominant inheritance model for COMT-GA vs. GG genotype with an OR of 3.5, 95% CI (1.58–7.74) p = 0.002) and COMT-AA vs. GG genotype with an OR of 6.0 95% CI (2.11–17.3) p = 0.003). The higher risk of coronary artery disease was observed in the dominant inheritance model for COMT (GA + AA) vs. GG genotype (OR 3.85, 95% CI 1.76–8.4, p < 0.007), whereas a non-significant association was found in recessive model for COMT (GG + GA vs. AA) (OR = 2.01, 95% CI (0.86–4.7) p = 0.72). The results indicated that A allele significantly increased the risk of coronary artery disease compared to the G allele (OR = 1.8, 95% CI (1.20–2.67) p = 0.004). COMT Val158Met polymorphism leads to a 6.0, 3.5 and 1.8-fold increased risk of developing coronary artery disease in the Indian population and providing novel insights into the genetic etiology and underlying biology of coronary artery disease. Conclusions: It is concluded that COMT-AA genotype and A allele are significantly associated with an increased susceptibility to coronary artery disease in Indian population. A larger sample size can be the key to progress in establishing the genetic co-relationship of COMT polymorphism and cardiovascular disease.

Targets for anticancer drugs in estrogen-induced carcinogenesis

Targets for anticancer drugs in estrogen-induced carcinogenesis

Evaluation of Estrogenic Activity of Extract from the Herbal Mixture Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsley, Phlomis umbrosa Turczaninow, and Angelica gigas Nakai

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) consists of highly effective prescription medications for treating menopausal symptoms; however, these agents have exhibited side effects including the risk of estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. Therefore, interest in phytotherapy-based materials as a natural source of alternatives to estrogen therapy has increased. However, some of these herbal medicines have been reported to increase the risk of estrogen-induced cancer. Herbal formulations composed of a combination of Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsley (CW), Phlomis umbrosa Turczaninow (PU), and Angelica gigas Nakai (AG) extracts (CPAE) have been used for treating menopausal symptoms. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to examine the safety of CPAE by determining its potential adverse estrogenic activity using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test guideline 455 (TG455) in a stably transfected transcriptionally activated human estrogen receptor α (hERα)-HeLa9903 cell model. We found that CPAE did not how any estrogenic activity or stimulate promoters containing estrogen response elements in MCF-7 cells. In addition, CPAE showed no significant selective activity against hERα and hERβ, non-selective activity against the ER, or effects on ER target gene expression. Furthermore, CPAE did not significantly induce MCF-7 cell proliferation and uterine weight increase in ovariectomized rats. These results demonstrate that CPAE can be used as beneficial herbal drug for prevention and therapeutic intervention of estrogen carcinogenesis in menopausal women.

Association between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and risk of cancer: evidence from 99 case-control studies.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays a central role in DNA repair and estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. Many recent epidemiologic studies have investigated the association between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and cancer risk, but the results are inconclusive. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association between cancer susceptibility and COMT Val158Met in different genetic models. Overall, no significant associations were found between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and cancer risk (homozygote model: odds ratio [OR] =1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.98, 1.13]; heterozygote model: OR =1.01, 95% CI = [0.98, 1.04]; dominant model: OR =1.02, 95% CI [0.97, 1.06], and recessive model: OR =1.03, 95% CI [0.97, 1.09]). In the subgroup analysis of cancer type, COMT Val158Met was significantly associated with increased risks of bladder cancer in recessive model, and esophageal cancer in homozygote model, heterozygote model, and dominant model. Subgroup analyses based on ethnicities, COMT Val158Met was significantly associated with increased risk of cancer in homozygote and recessive model among Asians. In addition, homozygote, recessive, and dominant models were significantly associated with increased cancer risk in the subgroup of allele-specific polymerase chain reaction genotyping. Significant associations were not observed when data were stratified by the source of the controls. In summary, this meta-analysis suggested that COMT Val158Met polymorphism might not be a risk factor for overall cancer risk, but it might be involved in cancer development at least in some ethnic groups (Asian) or some specific cancer types (bladder and esophageal cell cancer). Further evaluations of more preclinical and epidemiological studies are required.

Abstract 803: Overexpression of NRF1 leads to the generation of cancer stem-like cells and resistance to anoikis _ pathways to anchorage-independent growth during estrogen-induced malignant transformation

Abstract The actual role nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) plays in breast cancer remains the least studied of all transcription factors. A growth role for the NRF1 through regulation of cell cycle genes during estrogen-induced malignant transformation has recently been reported by us; however, the underlying mechanism of its contribution to estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis is undefined. In this study we provide new mechanistic insight into the mode by which NRF1 may contribute in estrogen-induced neoplastic conversion of cells by suppressing anoikis; identified BNIP3 as a key transcriptional target of NRF1; and survival signals conferred by NRF1 seems to impinge on the hypoxia-inducible death factor BNIP3. ChIP, qPCR, mass spectrometry, redox Western blot, colony formation, cell proliferation, ROS assay, immunofluorescence microscopy were used to study the role of NRF-1. Our data showed that higher expresion of NRF-1 in MCF10A produced large sizes of spheroids with increased level of stem cell markers -CD44+CD24+CD49f+ compared to cells transfected with vector alone. E2-induced increase of spheroid formation, suppression of cell death and cell survival were amplified by expression of NRF1 and these effects were diminished by loss of NRF1 function through expression of dominant negative NRF1. Breast cancer cell lines - MCF7 and MDA-MB231 overexpressed both NRF1 and BNIP3, and formed larger tumor spheroids compared to the MCF10A or vector-transformed breast cancer cells. E2 treatment as well as overexpression of NRF1 increased mRNA and protein levels of BNIP3. In addition, we found the increased transcriptional interaction of NRF-1 transcription factor in the BNIP3 promoter region by ChIP-qPCR assay in cells treated with E2. We also found the increased functional activity of the BNIP3 promoter in cells treated with E2 and this was decreased with co-treatment of ROS scavenger-Ebselen. NRF1 spheroids have the ability to micro-invasion. In summary, overexpression of NRF1 altered the cell morphology towards mesenchymal stem-like shape and promoted cancer stem cell-like phenotype. Findings of this study unveiled the underlying mechanism of NRF1 action through the activation of BNIP3 which is regulated by NRF1 and is presumably responsible for the estrogen-induced malignant transformation of MCF10A cells, including anoikis resistance, anchorage-independent cell growth, and increased cell migration and invasion. This work was in part supported by a VA MERIT Review (VA BX001463) grant to DR. Citation Format: Jayanta Das, Deodutta Roy. Overexpression of NRF1 leads to the generation of cancer stem-like cells and resistance to anoikis _ pathways to anchorage-independent growth during estrogen-induced malignant transformation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 803. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-803

Lack of association between the COMT rs4680 polymorphism and ovarian cancer risk: evidence from a meta-analysis of 3,940 individuals.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is involved in estrogen metabolism and is vital to estrogen-induced carcinogenesis, including that of ovarian cancer. Although many recent epidemiologic studies have investigated associations between the COMT rs4680 polymorphism and ovarian cancer risk, the results remain inconclusive. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimate of associations. Systematic searches of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biomedicine databases were undertaken to retrieve eligible studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to assess the strength of the association. In total, 8 case-control studies involving 1,293 cases and 2,647 controls were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the results showed no evidence of significant association between the COMT rs4680 polymorphism and ovarian cancer risk in any of the assessed genetic models. Subgroup analyses by ethnicity also did not reveal any significant association in any genetic model (p>0.05). In conclusion, our findings suggest that the COMT rs4680 polymorphism may not contribute to the risk of ovarian cancer.

Abstract 240: Natural antioxidants exhibit chemopreventive characteristics through the regulation of CNC-bZip transcription factors in estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis

Abstract Epidemiological data and studies in rodent models strongly support the role of estrogens in the development of breast cancers. Exact mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of estrogen-related cancers are not clear. Literature evidence and our studies strongly support the role of estrogen metabolism mediated oxidative stress in estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis. We have recently demonstrated that antioxidants vitamin C (VC) or butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) severely inhibit 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced breast tumor development in female ACI rats. The objective of this study was to characterize the role of CNC b-zip transcription factors in antioxidant-mediated prevention of breast cancer. Human non-neoplastic breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A was treated with E2, VC, VC + E2, Resveratrol (Res) and Res + E2 for up to 72 hrs. mRNA and protein expression levels of phase-II detoxifying enzymes SOD1, SOD2, SOD3, GPx, NQO1 and transcription factors from CNC b-zip family: Nrf1, Nrf2 and Nrf3 were quantified after treatment with E2 and compared with that of cells treated with antioxidants either alone or in combination with E2. The mRNA as well as protein expression levels of SOD3 and NQO1 were suppressed in MCF-10A cells treated with E2. There was no change in mRNA and protein expression levels of SOD1, SOD2 and GPX in MCF-10A cells treated with E2. Nrf2 mRNA and protein expression levels were also significantly suppressed in E2-treated MCF-10A cells. Vitamin C or Res treatment prevented E2-mediated decrease in SOD3, NQO1 and Nrf2 mRNA and protein expression levels. A significant increase in Nrf1 mRNA and protein expression levels in MCF-10A cells treated with E2 was noted. Further, treatment with antioxidants Res or VC also increased mRNA and protein expression levels of Nrf1. Nrf3 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly increased in MCF-10A cells treated with E2. This induction was overcome by co-treatment with E2 and VC or Res. Our studies demonstrate that antioxidant-mediated protection against estrogen-induced breast cancer could be through up regulation of phase-II detoxifying enzymes via an Nrf-dependent pathway involving a complex interplay among Nrfs 1, 2 and 3. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Anwesha Chatterjee, Amruta Ronghe, Fatma Abdalla, Hari K. Bhat. Natural antioxidants exhibit chemopreventive characteristics through the regulation of CNC-bZip transcription factors in estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 240. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-240

The Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Val158Met Polymorphism Contributes to the Risk of Breast Cancer in the Chinese Population: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

PurposeCatechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme plays a central role in estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. Emerging evidence from association studies has revealed that the functional Val158Met polymorphism (rs4680 G>A) of the Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) has been implicated in susceptibility to breast cancer in the Chinese population, while results of individual published studies remain inconclusive and inconsistent. To assess this association in the Chinese population, a meta-analysis was performed.MethodsEligible studies were searched on MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Chinese Biomedicine Database. Odds ratios (ORs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to assess the association between COMT polymorphisms and the risk of breast cancer using RevMan 5.2 and Stata 12.0 software.ResultsThe meta-analysis included 14 eligible studies, with a total of 4,626 breast cancer cases and 5,637 controls. Overall, the COMT Val158Met polymorphism (rs4680 G>A) was significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in several genetic models (A/A vs. G/G: OR, 1.59, 95% CI, 1.12-2.27; A/A vs. G/A+G/G: OR, 1.62, 95% CI, 1.14-2.29; A vs. G: OR, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.00-1.32), and a subgroup analysis according to menopausal status showed that this association was especially evident among premenopausal Chinese women (A/A vs. G/G: OR, 1.87, 95% CI, 0.99-3.54; A/A vs. G/A+G/G: OR, 1.94, 95% CI, 1.03-3.63).ConclusionThe results of this meta-analysis indicated that COMT Val158Met variants contribute to breast cancer susceptibility in the Chinese population, particularly among premenopausal women.

Abstract 3696: Resveratrol inhibits oxidative stress and prevents estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis via activation of NRF2-mediated protective pathways.

Abstract The importance of estrogens in the etiology of breast cancer is widely recognized. Estrogen-induced oxidative stress has been implicated in this carcinogenic process. Resveratrol, a natural antioxidant phytoestrogen has chemopreventive effects against a variety of illnesses including cancer. The objective of the present study was to characterize the mechanism of resveratrol-mediated protection against estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis. Female ACI rats were treated with 17β-estradiol (E2), resveratrol, and resveratrol + E2 for 8 months. Co-treatment of rats with resveratrol + E2 significantly increased tumor latency and reduced E2-induced breast tumor development. Resveratrol treatment upregulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) expression and inhibited E2-mediated changes in activities of antioxidant enzymes in the mammary tissues. Resveratrol upregulated NRF2-regulated antioxidant genes NQO1, SOD3, and OGG1 a gene involved in protection against oxidative DNA damage. Resveratrol also prevented E2-mediated inhibition of detoxification genes flavin monooxygenase 1, aldehyde oxidase 1 and monoamine oxidase b1. Resveratrol treatment upregulated NRF2 expression by inhibiting E2-mediated alterations in NRF2 promoter methylation pattern and by reverting E2-mediated increased expression of NRF2 targeting micoRNA miR-93. Resveratrol treatment induced apoptosis and inhibited E2-mediated increase in 8-OHdG levels, a marker of oxidative DNA damage. Decreased colony formation, mammosphere formation and cell migration in resveratrol-treated MCF-10A cells further suggest protective role of resveratrol against E2-induced mammary carcinogenesis. Taken together, these results suggest that resveratrol inhibits E2-induced breast carcinogenesis through inhibition of oxidative stress and activation of NRF2-mediated protective pathways. Citation Format: Bhupendra Singh, Amruta Ronghe, Anwesha Chatterjee, Hari K. Bhat. Resveratrol inhibits oxidative stress and prevents estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis via activation of NRF2-mediated protective pathways. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3696. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3696

Investigation of the cumulative body burden of estrogen-3,4-quinone in breast cancer patients and controls using albumin adducts as biomarkers

Both 17β-estradiol-2,3-quinone (E2-2,3-Q) and 17β-estradiol-3,4-quinone (E2-3,4-Q) are reactive metabolites of estrogen. Elevation of E2-3,4-Q to E2-2,3-Q ratio is thought to be an important indicator of estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. Our current study compared the cumulative body burden of these estrogen quinones in serum samples taken from Taiwanese women with breast cancer (n=152) vs healthy controls (n=75) by using albumin (Alb) adducts as biomarkers. Results clearly demonstrated the presence of cysteinyl adducts of E2-2,3-Q-4-S-Alb and E2-3,4-Q-2-S-Alb in all study population at levels ranging from 61.7–1330 to 66.6–1590pmol/g, respectively. Correlation coefficient between E2-2,3-Q-4-S-Alb and E2-3,4-Q-2-S-Alb was 0.610 for controls and 0.767 for breast cancer patients (p<0.001). We also noticed that in premenopausal subjects with body mass index (BMI) less than 27, background levels of E2-3,4-Q-2-S-Alb was inversely proportional to BMI with about 25% increase in E2-3,4-Q-2-S-Alb per 5kg/m2 decrease in BMI (p<0.001). In addition, we confirmed that mean levels of E2-3,4-Q-2-S-Alb in breast cancer patients were ∼5-fold greater than in those of controls (p<0.001). Overall, this evidence suggests that disparity in estrogen disposition and the subsequent elevation of cumulative body burden of E2-3,4-Q may play a role in the development of breast cancer.

Insulin-like growth factors in endometrioid adenocarcinoma: Correlation with clinico-pathological features and estrogen receptor expression

BackgroundEndometrial carcinoma is a common malignancy of female genital tract. Insulin-like growth factor is known to elicit estrogen-induced mitogenic activity and anti-apoptotic effect in endometrial tissues.MethodsThe retrospective study investigated the expression of insulin-like growth factors, estrogen receptors and their associations in endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EAC) from 80 EAC patients in immunohistochemistry, and 58 EAC patients and 42 control patients in quantitative RT-PCR. The Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze their correlations with clinic-pathological parameters.ResultsOur results showed that insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA levels were higher in tumor tissues and tumor-adjacent tissues than those in control cells, and were inversely correlated with the malignancy of the tumor with a positive correlation with ERα and ERβ expression. Insulin-like growth factor-1R protein expression was correlated with clinical stage, and insulin-like growth factor-2R protein expression was inversely correlated with histological grade.ConclusionsInsulin-like growth factor system plays an important role in estrogen-induced endometrial carcinogenesis, and overexpression of insulin-like growth factor-1R in the advanced endometrioid adenocarcinoma is not estrogen-dependent.

Abstract 572: Induction of NAD(P)H-Quinone oxidoreductase 1 by antioxidants in female ACI rats is associated with decrease in oxidative DNA damage and inhibition of estrogen-induced breast cancer

Abstract Exact mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of estrogen-related cancers are not clear. Literature evidence and our studies strongly support the role of estrogen metabolism-mediated oxidative stress in estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis. We have recently demonstrated that antioxidants vitamin C and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or estrogen metabolism inhibitor α-naphthoflavone (ANF) inhibit 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced mammary tumorigenesis in female ACI rats. The objective of the current study was to identify the mechanism of antioxidant-mediated protection against E2-induced DNA damage and mammary tumorigenesis. Female ACI rats were treated with E2 in the presence or absence of vitamin C or BHA or ANF for up to 240 days. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and NAD(P)H-Quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) mRNA and protein levels were suppressed in E2-exposed mammary tissue and in mammary tumors after treatment of rats with E2 for 240 days. This suppression was overcome by co-treatment of rats with E2 and vitamin C or BHA. Vitamin C and BHA significantly increased NQO1 levels after 120 days. 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were higher in E2-exposed mammary tissue and in mammary tumors compared to age-matched controls. Vitamin C or BHA treatment significantly decreased E2-mediated increase in 8-OHdG levels in the mammary tissue. In vitro studies using silencer RNA confirmed the role of NQO1 in prevention of oxidative DNA damage. Our studies further demonstrate that NQO1 upregulation by antioxidants is mediated through NRF2. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 572. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-572

Specificity of Human Aldo-Keto Reductases, NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase, and Carbonyl Reductases to Redox-Cycle Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Diones and 4-Hydroxyequilenin-o-quinone

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are suspect human lung carcinogens and can be metabolically activated to remote quinones, for example, benzo[a]pyrene-1,6-dione (B[a]P-1,6-dione) and B[a]P-3,6-dione by the action of either P450 monooxygenase or peroxidases, and to non-K region o-quinones, for example B[a]P-7,8-dione, by the action of aldo keto reductases (AKRs). B[a]P-7,8-dione also structurally resembles 4-hydroxyequilenin o-quinone. These three classes of quinones can redox cycle, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), and produce the mutagenic lesion 8-oxo-dGuo and may contribute to PAH- and estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. We compared the ability of a complete panel of human recombinant AKRs to catalyze the reduction of PAH o-quinones in the phenanthrene, chrysene, pyrene, and anthracene series. The specific activities for NADPH-dependent quinone reduction were often 100-1000 times greater than the ability of the same AKR isoform to oxidize the cognate PAH-trans-dihydrodiol. However, the AKR with the highest quinone reductase activity for a particular PAH o-quinone was not always identical to the AKR isoform with the highest dihydrodiol dehydrogenase activity for the respective PAH-trans-dihydrodiol. Discrete AKRs also catalyzed the reduction of B[a]P-1,6-dione, B[a]P-3,6-dione, and 4-hydroxyequilenin o-quinone. Concurrent measurements of oxygen consumption, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide formation established that ROS were produced as a result of the redox cycling. When compared with human recombinant NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and carbonyl reductases (CBR1 and CBR3), NQO1 was a superior catalyst of these reactions followed by AKRs and last CBR1 and CBR3. In A549 cells, two-electron reduction of PAH o-quinones causes intracellular ROS formation. ROS formation was unaffected by the addition of dicumarol, suggesting that NQO1 is not responsible for the two-electron reduction observed and does not offer protection against ROS formation from PAH o-quinones.