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Induction of acquired resistance to antiestrogen by reversible mitochondrial DNA depletion in breast cancer cell line
Author(s) -
Naito Akihiro,
CarcelTrullols Jaime,
Xie Chenghui,
Evans Teresa T.,
Mizumachi Takatsugu,
Higuchi Masahiro
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.23235
Subject(s) - breast cancer , mitochondrial dna , antiestrogen , cancer research , tamoxifen , biology , ethidium bromide , cancer , prostate cancer , medicine , endocrinology , genetics , dna , gene
Although the net benefits of tamoxifen in adjuvant breast cancer therapy have been proven, the recurrence of the cancer in an aggressive and hormone independent form has been highly problematic. We previously demonstrated the important role mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) plays in hormone‐independence in prostate cancer. Here, the role of mtDNA in breast cancer progression was investigated. We established hydroxytamoxifen (4‐OHT) resistant HTRMCF by growing MCF‐7, human breast adenocarcinoma cells, in the presence of 4‐OHT. HTRMCF was cross‐resistant to 4‐OHT and ICI182,780 concurrent with the depletion of mtDNA. To further investigate the role of mtDNA depletion, MCF‐7 was depleted of mtDNA by treatment with ethidium bromide. MCFρ0 was resistant to both 4‐OHT and ICI182,780. Furthermore, cybrid (MCFcyb) prepared by fusion MCFρ0 with platelet to transfer mtDNA showed susceptibility to antiestrogen. Surprisingly, after withdrawal of 4‐OHT for 8 weeks, HTRMCF and their clones became susceptible to both drugs concurrent with a recovery of mtDNA. Herein, our results substantiated the first evidence that the depletion of mtDNA induced by hormone therapy triggers a shift to acquired resistance to hormone therapy in breast cancer. In addition, we showed that mtDNA depletion can be reversed, rendering the cancer cells susceptible to antiestrogen. The fact that the hormone independent phenotype can be reversed should be a step toward more effective treatments for estrogen‐responsive breast cancer. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.