title: Optimization of estrogen growth response in MCF-7 cells.
abstract: The factors involved in estradiol-17 beta induced growth stimulation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells have been examined. Wild type MCF-7 cells (and clone E3) were shown to undergo slow growth in phenol-red-free medium containing specific calf sera. The E3 clone was used to document a mean 6-day growth stimulation of 3.35-fold (doubling time = 33 +/- 3 h) in cultures supplemented with 10(-11) M estradiol-17 beta. The serum batch utilized in the culture medium is most important in acquiring significant growth stimulation of MCF-7 cells by estradiol-17 beta. Regardless of the absence of phenol-red, only selected sera (2 out of 14 tested) supported minimal growth of MCF-7 cells in the absence of added estradiol 17 beta (doubling time = 55 +/- 11 h). When a calf-serum-supplemented culture failed to display a complete growth response to estradiol-17 beta, it was due to the rapid growth of the cells in the control (minus estradiol-17 beta) flasks. Sera that promoted shorter doubling times for MCF-7 cells cultured in the absence of estradiol-17 beta were rendered less supportive of growth if treated with dextran-coated charcoal or when cultures were supplemented with the estrogen antagonist ICI 164,384 (10(-7) M). Pooled extracts of these sera were shown to contain stimulatory levels of estradiol-17 beta. Dextran-coated charcoal treatment of sera removed or deactivated factors (other than estradiol-17 beta) which were not only required for the growth of MCF-7 cells, but were necessary for estrogen-stimulated growth. Varying the serum-containing medium, buffer, and nutrient mix or the addition of insulin has no effect on the growth response of these cells to estradiol-17 beta. These investigations document the culture conditions required to produce a maximal and consistent proliferative effect of E2 on MCF-7 cells without exposing the serum constituent to damaging chemical or absorbent agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Kral
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D007328:Insulin; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D004958:Estradiol; C051781:ICI 164384