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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

Published in:

01-05-2005 | Original Paper

Glucocorticoids induce G1 cell cycle arrest in human neoplastic thymic epithelial cells

Authors: Yasunobu Funakoshi, Hiroyuki Shiono, Masayoshi Inoue, Yoshihisa Kadota, Mitsunori Ohta, Hikaru Matsuda, Meinoshin Okumura, Tadaaki Eimoto

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 5/2005

Abstract

Purpose

Glucocorticoids exert anti-proliferative effects in various cell types and have long been known to induce apoptosis in thymocytes. Although a few reports have described the regression of human thymoma with glucocorticoid therapy, its effects on neoplastic thymic epithelial cells (TECs) have not been reported. In the present study, we investigated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression on neoplastic TECs and the effects of glucocorticoids in vitro on the cell cycle progression of tumor cells.

Patients and methods

Thymoma specimens were obtained during surgery from 21 patients. Three of the specimens with glucocorticoid therapy were examined using the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling method. Primary tumor specimens from ten untreated thymomas were examined for GR expression by immunohistochemistry. Isolated neoplastic TECs from the remaining eight untreated thymomas were examined using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometric and cell cycle analysis.

Results

GR are expressed on neoplastic TECs as well as on non-neoplastic thymocytes in thymomas, regardless of WHO histological classification. Glucocorticoids caused an accumulation of TEC in G0/G1 phase in all cases examined (n=6), and also induced apoptosis in the three with the lowest levels of Bcl-2 expression.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that neoplastic TECs express GR and that glucocorticoids directly suppress their in vitro proliferation.

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Title: Glucocorticoids induce G1 cell cycle arrest in human neoplastic thymic epithelial cells
Authors: Yasunobu Funakoshi
Hiroyuki Shiono
Masayoshi Inoue
Yoshihisa Kadota
Mitsunori Ohta
Hikaru Matsuda
Meinoshin Okumura
Tadaaki Eimoto
Publication date: 01-05-2005
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 5/2005
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-004-0646-8

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Glucocorticoids induce G1 cell cycle arrest in human neoplastic thymic epithelial cells

Abstract

Purpose

Patients and methods

Results

Conclusions

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