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Ligand-Induced Regulation of ERα and ERβ is Indicative of Human Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation

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Abstract

Two estrogen receptors (ER), ERα and ERβ, are expressed in breast cancer but their role in treatment response is unclear. The overall objective of this study was to determine if the presence of ERβ protein in breast cancer cell lines is an indicator of a poor prognosis based on cell proliferation. In addition, we determined the effect of estradiol (E2) and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as tamoxifen and genistein, on ERα and ERβ protein regulation, to help in the understanding of the mechanism behind their role in modulating cell proliferation. Using western blot and immunofluorescence analysis, the ER positive cell lines, MCF-7 and T47D, were found to contain both ERα and ERβ, and thus were used as model systems. E2 and genistein, which increased cell proliferation in both cell lines, induced an up regulation of ERβ in both cell lines. This suggests that an estrogenic response in breast cancer cells is indicated by an increase in ERβ expression. Tamoxifen decreased cell proliferation in both cell lines, while up regulating ERα in both cell lines, suggesting that antiestrogenic response is indicated by an increase in ERα expression. Although a change in the ERα/ERβ ratio may play a role in the effect seen in cell proliferation, this study indicates that ERβ is a poor prognosticator of cell proliferation in breast cancer and that ERα is a positive prognosticator of responsiveness to antiestrogen treatment.

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Power, K.A., Thompson, L.U. Ligand-Induced Regulation of ERα and ERβ is Indicative of Human Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation. Breast Cancer Res Treat 81, 209–221 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026114501364

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