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01-06-2013 | Preclinical Study

Androgen metabolite-dependent growth of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer as a possible aromatase inhibitor-resistance mechanism

Authors: Toru Hanamura, Toshifumi Niwa, Sayo Nishikawa, Hiromi Konno, Tatsuyuki Gohno, Chika Tazawa, Yasuhito Kobayashi, Masafumi Kurosumi, Hiroyuki Takei, Yuri Yamaguchi, Ken-ichi Ito, Shin-ichi Hayashi

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 3/2013

Abstract

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been reported to exert their antiproliferative effects in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer not only by reducing estrogen production but also by unmasking the inhibitory effects of androgens such as testosterone (TS) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However, the role of androgens in AI-resistance mechanisms is not sufficiently understood. 5α-Androstane-3β,17β-diol (3β-diol) generated from DHT by 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD3B1) shows androgenic and substantial estrogenic activities, representing a potential mechanism of AI resistance. Estrogen response element (ERE)-green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transfected MCF-7 breast cancer cells (E10 cells) were cultured for 3 months under steroid-depleted, TS-supplemented conditions. Among the surviving cells, two stable variants showing androgen metabolite-dependent ER activity were selected by monitoring GFP expression. We investigated the process of adaptation to androgen-abundant conditions and the role of androgens in AI-resistance mechanisms in these variant cell lines. The variant cell lines showed increased growth and induction of estrogen-responsive genes rather than androgen-responsive genes after stimulation with androgens or 3β-diol. Further analysis suggested that increased expression of HSD3B1 and reduced expression of androgen receptor (AR) promoted adaptation to androgen-abundant conditions, as indicated by the increased conversion of DHT into 3β-diol by HSD3B1 and AR signal reduction. Furthermore, in parental E10 cells, ectopic expression of HSD3B1 or inhibition of AR resulted in adaptation to androgen-abundant conditions. Coculture with stromal cells to mimic local estrogen production from androgens reduced cell sensitivity to AIs compared with parental E10 cells. These results suggest that increased expression of HSD3B1 and reduced expression of AR might reduce the sensitivity to AIs as demonstrated by enhanced androgen metabolite-induced ER activation and growth mechanisms. Androgen metabolite-dependent growth of breast cancer cells may therefore play a role in AI-resistance.

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Title: Androgen metabolite-dependent growth of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer as a possible aromatase inhibitor-resistance mechanism
Authors: Toru Hanamura
Toshifumi Niwa
Sayo Nishikawa
Hiromi Konno
Tatsuyuki Gohno
Chika Tazawa
Yasuhito Kobayashi
Masafumi Kurosumi
Hiroyuki Takei
Yuri Yamaguchi
Ken-ichi Ito
Shin-ichi Hayashi
Publication date: 01-06-2013
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-013-2595-x

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