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Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 3/2012

01-06-2012 | Preclinical study

GPER mediates the Egr-1 expression induced by 17β-estradiol and 4-hydroxitamoxifen in breast and endometrial cancer cells

Authors: Adele Vivacqua, Enrica Romeo, Paola De Marco, Ernestina Marianna De Francesco, Sergio Abonante, Marcello Maggiolini

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 3/2012

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Abstract

Early growth response-1 (Egr-1) is an immediate early gene involved in relevant biological events including the proliferation of diverse types of cell tumors. In a microarray analysis performed in breast cancer cells, 17β-estradiol (E2) and the estrogen receptor antagonist 4-hydroxitamoxifen (OHT) up-regulated Egr-1 through the G protein-coupled receptor named GPR30/GPER. Hence, in this study, we aimed to provide evidence regarding the ability of E2, OHT and the selective GPER ligand G-1 to regulate Egr-1 expression and function through the GPER/EGFR/ERK transduction pathway in both Ishikawa (endometrial) and SkBr3 (breast) cancer cells. Interestingly, we demonstrate that Egr-1 is involved in the transcription of genes regulating cell proliferation like CTGF and cyclin D1 and required for the proliferative effects induced by E2, OHT, and G-1 in both Ishikawa and SkBr3 cells. In addition, we show that GPER mediates the expression of Egr-1 also in carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Our data suggest that Egr-1 may represent an important mediator of the biological effects induced by E2 and OHT through GPER/EGFR/ERK signaling in breast and endometrial cancer cells. The results obtained in CAFs provide further evidence regarding the potential role exerted by the GPER-dependent Egr-1 up-regulation in tumor development and progression. Therefore, Egr-1 may be included among the bio-markers of estrogen and antiestrogen actions and may be considered as a further therapeutic target in both breast and endometrial tumors.
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Metadata
Title
GPER mediates the Egr-1 expression induced by 17β-estradiol and 4-hydroxitamoxifen in breast and endometrial cancer cells
Authors
Adele Vivacqua
Enrica Romeo
Paola De Marco
Ernestina Marianna De Francesco
Sergio Abonante
Marcello Maggiolini
Publication date
01-06-2012
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 3/2012
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1901-8

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