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Role of receptor occupancy in the transition from responsive to unresponsive states in cultured breast tumor cells
Author(s) -
Darbre Philippa D.,
King Roger J. B.
Publication year - 1988
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.240360109
Subject(s) - receptor , transfection , breast cancer , biology , cancer research , dna methylation , hormone , transition (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , cancer , endocrinology , genetics , gene expression
Progression from a steroid sensitive to insensitive state is characteristic of breast tumors, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved. Changes in steroid receptor can be associated with the progression. This paper reviews the cell culture data pertaining to loss of response and concludes that loss of receptor is a consequence rather than a cause of insensitivity. This view is based on evidence that loss of all response parameters occurs despite the presence of fully functional receptors as determined by transfection experiments. The postreceptor defect appears to be at the level of the hormone response element of the responsive genes arid may involve DNA methylation. The implications of the model for human breast cancer biology are discussed.