1-25(oh)2-16-ene-23-yne-d3 and Breast-Neoplasms

[3H]thymidine incorporation and DNA content were used to investigate the antiproliferative effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 and four analogues [16-ene-1,25(OH)2D3 (16-ene)]; 16-ene,23-yne-1,25(0H)2,D3; EB1089; and 22 oxa-1,25(OH)2D3] on MCF-7, BT-474, and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cell lines. 1,25(OH)2D3 and the analogues elicited a biphasic response from MCF-7 and BT-474 estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cells, in the presence of estradiol (E2), with lower doses (between 10(-12) and 10(-10) M) tending to stimulate proliferation and higher doses (between 10(-9) and 10(-6) M) inhibiting proliferation by as much as 65%. In the absence of E2, the stimulatory effect was abrogated. Proliferation of MDA-MB-453, estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) cells, was stimulated by these compounds only at 10(-12) M, and inhibited by all higher doses, by as much as 83%. All three cell lines were shown to be vitamin D receptor (VDR) positive, and 1,25(OH)2D3 and all four analogues bound to the VDR with high affinities in each cell line. The antiestrogen ICI 164,384 inhibited the proliferation of all three cell lines. ICI 164,384 at 10(-8) M in combination with 1,25(OH)2D, or EB1089 converted biphasic response of the ER+ cells to one resembling the response of the ER- cells, by eliminating the stimulatory response elicited by 1,25(OH)2D3 at low doses and enhancing the antiproliferative effects of higher doses by as much as 1000-fold. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that E2 in the ER+ cells blocks the antiproliferative effects of the analogues and suggest the potential usefulness of combined antiestrogen and 1,25(OH)2D3 analogues in ER+ breast tumors, whereas 1,25(OH)2D3 analogues alone might suffice in ER- breast tumors.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Breast Neoplasms; Calcitriol; Cell Division; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Drug Therapy, Combination; Estradiol; Estrogen Antagonists; Female; Humans; Neoplasm Proteins; Polyunsaturated Alkamides; Receptors, Calcitriol; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Cells, Cultured

We analyzed the antiproliferative effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and four vitamin D analogs on MCF-7, a human breast cancer cell line known to express the vitamin D receptor. Growth curve studies and [3H]thymidine incorporation assays were used to assess the antiproliferative effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (vitamin D), Ro 23-7553, Ro 24-5531, Ro 25-5317, and Ro 24-5583. Growth of MCF-7 cells was significantly inhibited by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and all four analogs at 10(-8) M (P < 0.05). MCF-7 cells treated with analog had significantly less [3H]thymidine incorporation than cells treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (P < 0.05). The affinity of the analogs for the vitamin D receptor was similar to that of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. These results demonstrate that analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 are potent antiproliferative agents on human breast cancer cells and that this activity is likely mediated through the vitamin D receptor.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Binding, Competitive; Breast Neoplasms; Calcitriol; Cell Division; Humans; Receptors, Calcitriol; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Vitamin-D3 derivatives are now well-recognized growth inhibitors of numerous tumoral cells and in particular breast-cancer cells. However, the mechanisms by which they operate are not well established. Among the wide range of physiological and biological functions of vitamin-D3 derivatives, the best described include their action on calcium homeostasis. In this study, we sought to establish whether the effects of vitamin-D3 derivatives on breast-cancer cell growth may be in part related to intracellular calcium modulation and induction of apoptosis. To address these questions, we used, in addition to 1,25(OH)2D3, the active metabolite of vitamin D3, a non-calcemic 1,25(OH)2D3 derivative: Ro 23-7553 [16-ene-23-yne-1,25(OH)2D3], which in our hands was more potent than the parent compound in inhibiting breast-cancer cell growth. We showed that the efficiency of both compounds in growth inhibition was higher in the estradiol-receptor-positive-breast-tumor MCF-7 cells than in the estradiol-receptor-negative MDA-MB 231 cells. In MCF-7 cells in particular, important modifications of intracellular calcium related to the emptying of intracellular pools were observed. The depletion of Ca++ from intracellular stores was followed by the induction of apoptosis. Such a phenomenon was never observed in MDA-MB 231 cells. Our results suggest that the action of vitamin-D3 derivatives on the depletion of calcium stores, which was more significant in MCF-7 than in MDA-MB 231 cells, may induce apoptosis in the former cells and account for the high efficiency of vitamin-D3 derivatives on growth inhibition of MCF-7 breast-tumor cells.

Topics: Apoptosis; Breast Neoplasms; Calcitriol; Calcium; Calcium Channels; Cell Division; Cholecalciferol; Humans; Tumor Cells, Cultured