Premium
Estrogen suppression of EGFR expression in breast cancer cells: A possible mechanism to modulate growth *
Author(s) -
Yarden Ronit I.,
Wilson Melissa A.,
Chrysogelos Susan A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.1142
Subject(s) - estrogen receptor , estrogen , cancer research , epidermal growth factor receptor , estrogen receptor alpha , breast cancer , cell growth , endocrinology , estrogen receptor beta , medicine , cancer cell , biology , transcription factor , cancer , chemistry , gene , biochemistry
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane receptor whose overexpression in breast cancer predicts for poor prognosis and is inversely correlated with expression of estrogen receptor (ER). This study was designed to investigate whether estrogen plays an active role in suppression of EGFR expression in estrogen‐responsive breast cancer cell lines expressing low levels of EGFR. Upon withdrawal of estrogen, EGFR mRNA and protein increased 3–6 fold in MCF‐7, T47D, and BT474 ER+ breast cancer cells. This was reversible upon addition of estradiol back to the culture media, but only after prolonged treatment. Nuclear run‐on assays and studies with the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D demonstrated that regulation is at the transcriptional level. These results indicate that in the presence of estrogen, ER+ breast cancer cells possess active mechanisms to suppress EGFR expression. Up‐regulation of EGFR in response to estrogen depletion and growth inhibition could represent an attempt to rescue cell growth by utilizing an alternative pathway. Indeed, we found that estrogen‐depleted breast cancer cells are more sensitive to the mitogenic effects of EGF and TGF‐α, and simultaneous blockade of both estrogen and EGFR signaling pathways induced cell death. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 36: 232–246, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.