Tamoxifen Treatment in Correlation with Increased ET-1 Levels Is Associated with the Development of Breast Cancer Metastases
Breast cancer is a hormone-dependent
tumor. Apart from chemotherapy, a hormone-therapy is a frequently elected
treatment method for patients with positive estrogen receptor status. One
important drug for hormone-therapy is Tamoxifen (Tam). Tam binds to both
estrogen receptors (alpha and beta) and inhibits the production of specific
target genes, important for tumor development.
Endothelin-1 (ET-1),
first described as a vasoconstrictor peptide, is also frequently associated
with the development of tumors. ET-1 binds via two independent receptors A and
B and the expression of these receptors plays an important role in the
development of tumors.
The authors in this
article analyzed the relationship between Tamoxifen, ET-1 overexpression, and estrogen
receptor (ER) leading to Tamoxifen resistance. Breast cancer cell lines
were treated with Tamoxifen, ET-1, estrogen and combinations. Using qRT-PCR,
immune-precipitation, Western blot, EMSA and immunohistology target gene
expression and ER complex partners were investigated. Human biopsies and
mastectomy specimens were immunohistologically studied for Vimentin 3, and ERβ.
The results indicated that breast cancer cells
stimulated with a combination of Tamoxifen and ET-1 downregulate ERα,
while upregulating intracellular ET-1, and ERβ. Immunoprecipation of nuclear extracts with ET-1, ERα or
ERβ agarose conjugated antibodies
revealed a complex formation change replacing ERα by ERβ once Tamoxifen formed a complex with
ET-1. ERβ and ET-1 migrated into the
nucleus. ET-1 stimulation upregulated metastases promoting target genes (IL-6,
Wnt11), including a novel one, Vimentin 3. Tissue analyses showed Vim3 and ERβ expression in metastases of ERα positive
breast cancer, and in ERα negative biopsies/mastectomy specimens.
From the observations, it can be concluded that in within the limitations
of such a study, ERß seems to be a
more important player in ERα positive
but also in ERα negative breast
cancer, irrespective of the reason for this negativity. The observation of ERß and Vim3 positive tumor parallel the
results from the cell culture study, suggesting that the translocation of ET-1
into the nucleus via ERß is responsible for the overproduction of Vim3, which
may well be important for cells to lose their anchorage, and leave the cell
layer. In short, this concept presents a new treatment approach for
individualized medicine in breast cancer patients with increased ET-1 levels.
Article by Melanie von Brandenstein,
et al, from Germany and UK.
Full access: http://mrw.so/5pL2sJ
Image by Side Effects1, from
Flickr-cc.
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