scholarly journals Models and mechanisms of acquired antihormone resistance in breast cancer: significant clinical progress despite limitations

Author(s):  
Elizabeth E. Sweeney ◽  
Russell E. McDaniel ◽  
Philipp Y. Maximov ◽  
Ping Fan ◽  
V. Craig Jordan

AbstractTranslational research for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer depends upon the four Ms: models, molecules, and mechanisms in order to create medicines. The process, to target the estrogen receptor (ER) in estrogen-dependent breast cancer, has yielded significant advances in patient survivorship and the first approved medicines (tamoxifen and raloxifene) to reduce the incidence of any cancer in high- or low-risk women. This review focuses on the critical role of the few ER-positive cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, BT474, ZR-75-1) that continue to advance our understanding of the estrogen-regulated biology of breast cancer. More importantly, the model cell lines have provided an opportunity to document the development and evolution of acquired antihormone resistance. The description of this evolutionary process that occurs in micrometastatic disease during up to a decade of adjuvant therapy would not be possible in the patient. The use of the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, in particular, has been instrumental in discovering a vulnerability of ER-positive breast cancer exhaustively treated with antihormone therapy. Physiologic estradiol acts as an apoptotic trigger to cause tumor regression. These unanticipated findings in the laboratory have translated to clinical advances in our knowledge of the paradoxical role of estrogen in the life and death of breast cancer.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maged Mostafa Mahmoud ◽  
Ahmed M. Al-Hejin ◽  
Turki S. Abujamel ◽  
Modhi Alenezi ◽  
Fadwa Aljoud ◽  
...  

Abstract This study served as the pioneer in studying the anti-cancer role of chicken cathelicidin peptides. Chicken cathelicidins were used as anticancer agent against the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and human colon cancer cell line (HCT116). An in vivo investigation was also achieved to evaluate the role of chicken cathelicidin in Ehrlich ascites cell (EAC) suppression as a tumor model after subcutaneous implantation in mice. In addition, the mechanism of action of the interaction of cationic peptides with breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was also investigated. It was found during the study that exposure of cell lines to higher concentration of chicken cathelicidin for 72 h reduced cell lines growth rate by 90%-95%. These peptides demonstrated down-regulation of (cyclin A1 and cyclin D genes) which are essential for G1/S phase transient and S/G2 phase and consequently causes “prometaphase arrest” ultimately leading to death of MCF-7 cells. The study showed two- and three-times higher expression of the caspase-3, and − 7 genes respectively in MCF-7 cells treated with chicken peptides (especially cathelicidin-2 and − 3) relative to untreated cells which encouraged pro-apoptotic pathway, autophagy, and augmentation of the anti-proliferative activity. Our data showed that chicken ( CATH-1 ) enhance releasing of TNFα, INF-γ and upregulation of granzyme K in treated mice groups, in parallel, the tumor size and volume was reduced in the treated EAC-bearing groups after cathelicidin administration compared to untreated EAC-bearing group. Additionally, animals received high dose of cathelicidin-1 (40 µg/ml) displayed an apical survival rate compared to untreated carcinoma control and animals which received low dose of cathelicidin (10 and 20 µg/ml). Tumor of mice groups treated with chicken cathelicidin displayed high area of necrosis compared to untreated EAC-bearing mice. Based on histological analysis and immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor section in Ehrlich solid tumor exhibited a strong Bcl2 expression in untreated control compared to mice treated with 10 & 20 µg/ml of cathelicidin. Interestingly, low expression of Bcl2 were observed in mice taken 40 µg/ml of CATH-1. This study drive intention in treatment of cancer through the efficacy of anticancer efficacy of chicken cathelicidin peptides.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled R.A. Abdellatif ◽  
Mostafa M. Elbadawi ◽  
Mohammed T. Elsaady ◽  
Amer A. Abd El-Hafeez ◽  
Takashi Fujimura ◽  
...  

Background: Some 2-thioxoimidazolidinones have been reported as anti-prostate and anti-breast cancer agents through their inhibitory activity on topoisomerase I that is considered as a potential chemotherapeutic target. Objective: A new series of 3,5-disubstituted-2-thioxoimidazolidinone derivatives 10a-f and their S-methyl analogs 11a-f were designed, synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity against human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3), human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and non-cancerous human lung fibroblast cell line (WI-38). </P><P> Results and Method: While compounds 10a-f showed a broad range of activities against PC-3 and MCF-7 cell lines (IC50 = 34.0 – 186.9 and 24.6 – 147.5 µM respectively), the S-methyl analogs 11a-f showed (IC50 = 22.7 – 198.5 and 16.9 – 188.2 µM respectively) in comparison with 5-fluorouracil (IC50 = 60.7 and 40.7 µM respectively). 11c (IC50 = 22.7 and 29.2 µM) and 11f (IC50 = 28.7 and 16.9 µM) were the most potent among all compounds against both PC-3 and MCF-7 respectively with no cytotoxicity against WI-38. Conclusion: The newly synthesized compounds showed good activity against PC-3 and MCF-7 cell lines in comparison with 5-fluorouracil. Compounds 11c and 11f bound with human topoisomerase I similar to its known inhibitors and significantly inhibited its DNA relaxation activity in a dose dependent manner which may rationalize their molecular mechanism as cytotoxic agents.


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (43) ◽  
pp. E6600-E6609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyong Fu ◽  
Rinath Jeselsohn ◽  
Resel Pereira ◽  
Emporia F. Hollingsworth ◽  
Chad J. Creighton ◽  
...  

Forkhead box protein A1 (FOXA1) is a pioneer factor of estrogen receptor α (ER)–chromatin binding and function, yet its aberration in endocrine-resistant (Endo-R) breast cancer is unknown. Here, we report preclinical evidence for a role of FOXA1 in Endo-R breast cancer as well as evidence for its clinical significance. FOXA1 is gene-amplified and/or overexpressed in Endo-R derivatives of several breast cancer cell line models. Induced FOXA1 triggers oncogenic gene signatures and proteomic profiles highly associated with endocrine resistance. Integrated omics data reveal IL8 as one of the most perturbed genes regulated by FOXA1 and ER transcriptional reprogramming in Endo-R cells. IL-8 knockdown inhibits tamoxifen-resistant cell growth and invasion and partially attenuates the effect of overexpressed FOXA1. Our study highlights a role of FOXA1 via IL-8 signaling as a potential therapeutic target in FOXA1-overexpressing ER-positive tumors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mashooq Ahmad Bhat ◽  
M. Al-Tahhan ◽  
Mohamed A. Al-Omar ◽  
Ahmed M. Naglah ◽  
Abdullah Al-Dhfyan

Background: Thiosemicarbazones and its derivatives received a great pharmaceutical importance due to their prominent biological activities. Methods: A series of disubstituted thiosemicarbazone derivatives (1-12) were designed and synthesized as pure compounds in good yield. All the synthesized compounds were analyzed by spectral data. The anticancer activity of all the compounds was performed against breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Results: Most of the compounds showed activity against breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines with (IC50 = 12.25 &#181;M ‒ 185.35 &#181;M) and (IC50 = 12.97 &#181;M ‒ 107.33 &#181;M), respectively. Compound 9 presented (IC50 = 12.76 &#181;M and 12.97 &#181;M) against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively. Conclusion: Compound 9, was found to exhibit significant anti-breast cancer activity. This compound was further evaluated for side population percent inhibition assay on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 at 5 and 10 &#181;M concentration. It showed superiority to block side population by more than 80% at 5 μM concentration compared to the reference drug verapamil.


2006 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1121-1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Kuske ◽  
Catherine Naughton ◽  
Kate Moore ◽  
Kenneth G MacLeod ◽  
William R Miller ◽  
...  

Hormone-dependent estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cells may adapt to low estrogen environments such as produced by aromatase inhibitors. In many instances, cells become insensitive to the effects of estrogen but may still retain dependence on ER. We have investigated the expression, function, and activation of ERα in two endocrine-resistant MCF-7 models to identify mechanisms that could contribute to resistance. While MCF-7/LCC1 cells are partially estrogen dependent, MCF-7/LCC9 cells are fully estrogen insensitive and fulvestrant and tamoxifen resistant. In both MCF-7/LCC1 and MCF-7/LCC9 cell lines, high expression of ERα was associated with enhanced binding to the trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) promoter in the absence of estrogen and increased transcription of TFF1 and progesterone receptor. In contrast to the observations derived from hypersensitive and supersensitive models, these cells were truly estrogen independent; nevertheless, removal of ERα by siRNA, or fulvestrant, a specific ER downregulator, inhibited growth indicating dependence on ERα. In the absence of estrogen, neither ERα Ser118 nor Ser167 were phosphorylated as frequently found in other ligand-independent cell line models. Addition of estrogen activated ERα Ser118 in MCF-7 and LCC1 cells but not in LCC9 cells. We suggest that the estrogen-independent growth within these cell lines is accounted for by high levels of ERα expression driving transcription and full estrogen independence explained by lack of ERα activation through Ser118.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihui Chen ◽  
Zhipeng Wang ◽  
Shouhong Gao ◽  
Kejin Wu ◽  
Fang Bai ◽  
...  

Abstract AimPemetrexed, a new generation antifolate drug, is approved for the treatment for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, but factors affecting the efficacy and resistance of it have yet to be fully explicit. ATP-binding cassette transporters have been reported as prognostic and adverse effects predictors of many xenobiotics. This study was designed to explore whether ABC transporters affect pemetrexed resistance and may contribute to treatment regimen optimization for breast cancer.MethodsFirstly, the expression of ABC transporters family members was measured in cell lines, thereafter examined the potential role of ABC transporter in conferring resistance to pemetrexed in primary cancer cell lines isolated from 34 breast cancer patients, and then the role of ABCC5 in mediating transport of pemetrexed and apoptosis pathway in MCF-7 cell lines was assessed. Finally, the functions of ABCC5 on therapeutic effect of pemetrexed was evaluated in breast cancer bearing mice.ResultsThe expressions of ABCC2, ABCC4, ABCC5 and ABCG2 were significantly increased in pan-resistance cell lines, and the ABCC5, the most obvious one, was 5.21 times higher than that of the control group. The expression of ABCC5 was inversely correlated with sensitivity (IC50) of pemetrexed (r = 0.741; p<0.010) in breast cancer cell lines from 34 patients. Further, we found expression of ABCC5 influenced the efflux and cytotoxicity of pemetrexed in MCF-7 cell line, and the IC50 were 0.06 μg/ml and 0.20 μg/ml in ABCC5 knock-down and over-expression cells, respectively. In vivo study, we found ABCC5 affected sensitivity of pemetrexed in breast cancer bearing mice, and the tumor volume was much larger in ABCC5 over-expression group than that in control group (2.7 folds vs 1.2 folds).ConclusionsOur results indicated ABCC5 was associated with pemetrexed sensitivity and resistance in vitro and in vivo, and may be a biomarker for regimen optimization of pemetrexed in breast cancer treatment.


Author(s):  
Tuğçe Balcı Okcanoğlu ◽  
Çağla Kayabaşı ◽  
Cumhur Gündüz

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in a range of biological processes, such as cellular differentiation, migration, apoptosis, invasion, proliferation, and transcriptional regulation. The aberrant expression of lncRNAs plays a significant role in several cancer types. Aurora kinases are increasingly expressed in various malignancies; accordingly, the inhibition of these enzymes may represent a novel approach for the treatment of various cancers. CCT137690, an Aurora kinase inhibitor, displays an anti-proliferative activity in human cancer cell lines. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects of CCT137690 on estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and ER-negative human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). In addition, this study was targeted toward determining the changes induced in lncRNA expression levels following the initiation of Aurora kinase inhibitor treatment. The cytotoxic effects of CCT137690 were determined by means of the xCELLigence system. Furthermore, the anti-proliferative role of CCT137690 in breast cancer was investigated by checking the changes in lncRNA expression profiles using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of CCT137690 were determined as 4.5 μM (MCF-7) and 7.27 μM (MDA-MB-231). Several oncogenic lncRNAs (e.g., PRINS, HOXA1AS, and NCRMS) were downregulated in both ER-negative and ER-positive cell lines. On the other hand, tumor suppressor lncRNAs (e.g., DGCR5 and IGF2AS) were upregulated in the ER-positive cell line. After CCT137690 treatment, HOXA11AS and PCAT-14 lncRNAs were downregulated in the ER-positive cell lines. In addition, MER11C, SCA8, BC200, HOTAIR, PCAT-1, UCA1, SOX2OT, and HULC lncRNAs were downregulated in the ER-negative cell lines. The results of the present study indicated that Aurora kinase inhibitor CCT137690 could be a potential anti-cancer agent for breast cancer treatment.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajeev Vikram ◽  
Wen Cheng Chou ◽  
Shih-Chieh Hung ◽  
Chen-Yang Shen

Cells with high CD44 but low CD24 expression (CD44high/CD24−/low) and high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (ALDHbr) are widely considered to be drivers of metastasis, therapy resistance and tumor recurrence in breast cancer. However, the role of the CD44high/CD24−/low and ALDHbr phenotypes in identifying tumorigenic cells in breast cancer remains controversial due to the discrepancy in their distribution and tumorigenic potential in intrinsic breast cancer subtypes. In this study, we analyzed the cells expressing these markers in six different breast cancer cell lines representing major breast cancer subtypes (T47D, MCF-7, BT-474, AU-565, Hs578T and MDA-MB-231). CD44high/CD24−/low, ALDHbr and CD44−/low/CD24−/low cell populations were isolated by flow cytometry and analyzed for hallmark stem cell characteristics of differentiation, migration, invasiveness and metastasis using in vitro and in vivo techniques. Our results demonstrate that the CD44−/low/CD24−/low cell population, which is enriched in luminal cell lines (T47D, MCF-7 and BT-474), possesses metastatic and tumorigenic properties. We also show that, contrary to previous claims, the expression of the ALDH1 isoform ALDH1A1 does not affect the tumorigenic potential of cell lines with high ALDH activity (BT-474 and AU-565). Further transcriptomic and clinical studies are needed to determine the potential of these markers as early diagnostic tools and treatment targets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-304
Author(s):  
Nail Besli ◽  
Guven Yenmis ◽  
Matem Tunçdemir ◽  
Elif Yaprak Sarac ◽  
Sibel Doğan ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveMCF-7 cells, a breast cancer cell line, are used for experiments of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer and many sub-clones representing different classes of ER-positive tumors. We aimed to determine the efficacy of metformin, a potential anti-cancer agent, on the cell proliferation, and the expressions of NF-kB (p65), MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MCF-7 cell line.Materials and methodsMCF-7 cells (human breast adenocarcinoma) were treated with elevating doses of metformin (0–50 mM) for 24 h. The anti-proliferative effect of metformin was studied by BrdU proliferation assay, and the expression levels of NF-kB (p65), MMP-2 and MMP-9 were analyzed by immunocytochemical staining.ResultsThe percentage of cell proliferation was reduced significantly by 10 and 50 mM doses of metformin (p < 0.001). The expression levels of nuclear NF-kB (p65), MMP-9 and MMP-2 were considerably reduced in 50 mM metformin treated cells while the expression of cytoplasmic NF-kB (p65) elevated compared to control group (p < 0.05). Ten millimolar metformin also reduced expression of MMP-9 significantly (p < 0.05).ConclusionMetformin may act on the proliferation, and the processes of invasion and metastasis of MCF-7 cells through blocking NF-kB, which is intensely expressed in breast cancer cells, and through diminishing the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 significantly.


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