moxestrol and Breast-Neoplasms

To examine the role of the estrogen response element (ERE) sequence in binding of liganded estrogen receptor (ER) to promoters, we analyzed in vivo interaction of liganded ER with the imperfect ERE in the pS2 gene and the composite estrogen-responsive unit (ERU) in the proteinase inhibitor 9 (PI-9) gene. In transient transfections of ER-positive HepG2-ER7 cells, PI-9 was strongly induced by estrogen, moxestrol (MOX), and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT). PI-9 was not induced by raloxifene or ICI 182,780. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR showed that moxestrol strongly induced cellular PI-9 and pS2 mRNAs, whereas OHT moderately induced PI-9 mRNA and weakly induced pS2 mRNA. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated strong and similar association of 17beta-estradiol-hERalpha and MOX-hERalpha with the PI-9 ERU and with the pS2 ERE. Binding of MOX-hERalpha to the PI-9 ERU and the pS2 ERE was rapid and continuous. Although MOX-hERalpha bound strongly to the PI-9 ERU and less well to the pS2 ERE in chromatin immunoprecipitation, gel shift assays showed that estrogen-hERalpha binds with higher affinity to the deproteinized pS2 ERE than to the PI-9 ERU. Across a broad range of OHT concentrations, OHT-hERalpha associated strongly with the pS2 ERE and weakly with the PI-9 ERU. ICI-hERalpha bound poorly to the PI-9 ERU and effectively to the pS2 ERE. Raloxifene-hERalpha and MOX-hERalpha exhibited similar binding to the PI-9 ERU and the pS2 ERE. These studies demonstrate that ER ligand and ERE sequence work together to regulate in vivo binding of ER to estrogen-responsive promoters.

Topics: Acetylation; Base Sequence; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line; DNA; Estradiol; Estrogens; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Hepatocytes; Humans; Ligands; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteins; Receptors, Estrogen; Serpins; Tamoxifen; Transfection; Trefoil Factor-1; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

In order to understand the structural features that might lead to an estrogen receptor (ER) based breast tumor imaging agent with improved uptake characteristics, we have synthesized several new analogs of 16 beta-fluoroestradiol (beta FES) and studied their tissue distribution in immature rats. The compounds we prepared were 11 beta-methoxy-beta FES (7a), 11 beta-ethyl-beta FES (7b), 17 alpha-ethynyl-beta FES (8c), 17 alpha-ethynyl-11 beta-methoxy-beta FES (8a), and 11 beta-ethyl-17 alpha-ethynyl-beta FES (8b). All of the analogs exhibit good affinity for ER, ranging at 25 degrees C from 10 to 460, with estradiol equal to 100. Measurement of their octanol/water partition coefficients by an HPLC method allowed us to estimate their level of nonspecific binding and thereby to predict their binding selectivity indices (BSI, i.e., the ratio of their ER-specific to nonspecific binding); the BSI values of three fluorine-substituted analogs exceed that of estradiol. These ligands have been labeled in the 16 beta position with fluorine-18 by the nucleophilic displacement of an alpha-disposed trifluoromethanesulfonate by [18F]fluoride ion. Reduction with lithium aluminum hydride produced the estradiol series ([18F]-7a-c), while treatment with lithium trimethylsilylacetylide afforded the ethynylated series ([18F]-8a-c). The synthesis time was 85 min for [18F]-7a-c and 120 min for [18F]-8a-c, with radiochemical yields ranging from 16 to 43%, and effective specific activities being 90-2900 Ci/mmol (3.3-107 TBq/mmol). In tissue distribution studies in immature female rats, all of the labeled analogs demonstrated ER-selective uptake in the principal target tissues, the uterus and the ovaries, and also in organs with lower titers of ER, the secondary target sites kidney, thymus, fat, and muscle. Although factors other than specific and nonspecific binding obviously affect the tissue distribution of these 16 beta-fluoroestrogens, we find that their ER-specific uptake by both the principal and the secondary target tissues correlates with their BSI values at a high level of statistical significance in most cases. The ethynylated-11 beta-methoxy analog [18F]-8a had high selectivity (uterus to blood ratio) after 3 h and exhibited the highest uterine uptake (percent injected dose/gram) of any fluorine-substituted estradiol ligand we have studied to date. This compound has been chosen for more detailed studies (to be described elsewhere), including clinical trials in human pat

Topics: alpha-Fetoproteins; Animals; Breast Neoplasms; Estradiol; Female; Fluorine Radioisotopes; Isotope Labeling; Protein Binding; Radionuclide Imaging; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Estrogen; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; Solubility; Stereoisomerism; Tissue Distribution

In this study we observed the incidence of hormone sensitivity in the response of MCF-7 cells to estrogen stimulation when the cells were cultured in different contact environments (hydrophilic plastic, bovine corneal extracellular matrix, type I collagen and in suspension culture). The major purpose was to describe the influence of cell to cell and cell to substrate contacts on the morphological response to estrogen treatment. However, other parameters including growth and induction of progestin receptor were also explored, keeping in mind that the MCF-7 cell line, although representative of normal mammary epithelium in that it contains a similar hormone receptivity, was selected in vitro from a metastatic population in a pleural effusion. Although substrate conditions did not modify growth enhancement by estrogens, progestin receptor levels were significantly higher in three-dimensional spheroid cultures in which cell to cell contacts were optimal due to elimination of basal contact. A careful morphological survey of large surfaces lead to an objective opinion of the overall effect of the hormone treatment on the non-cloned cell line in which a marked heterogeneity in the response of individual cells was observed. In terms of morphofunctional differentiation, the edification of acini with dense microvillus coating was best in suspension culture. When sections were made perpendicular to the plane of cultures on collagen gel rafts two other phenomena were noted: decrease in intercellular junctions, resulting in reduced cell to cell cohesion, and accumulation biodegradation products in the collagen lattice. This suggested a hormone-mediated interaction between the metastatic cells and the fibrillar substrate, collagen I, one of the major constituents of tissue stroma. This estrogen response might be related to the metastatic phenotype and must be distinct from their hormone sensitivity in terms of growth and differentiation since hormone receptivity is generally considered to be a favorable prognosis for breast cancer.

Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Cell Division; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Collagen; Culture Media; Estradiol; Estrogens; Ethinyl Estradiol; Humans; Plastics; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Progesterone

Topics: Animals; Breast Neoplasms; Equilenin; Equilin; Estradiol; Estrogens; Estrogens, Catechol; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Humans; Hydroxyestrones; Hydroxylation; Microsomes, Liver; Papio

Topics: Binding Sites; Binding, Competitive; Breast Neoplasms; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Cytoplasm; Estradiol; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Humans; Methods; Receptors, Estrogen; Uterine Neoplasms