title: Role of insulin-like growth factors and the type I insulin-like growth factor receptor in the estrogen-stimulated proliferation of human breast cancer cells.
abstract: Estrogen sensitizes the MCF-7 estrogen-responsive breast cancer cell line to the mitogenic effect of insulin and the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). This sensitization is specific for estrogen and occurs at physiological concentrations of estradiol. Dose-response experiments with insulin, IGF-I, and IGF-II suggested that the sensitization is mediated through the type I IGF receptor. Binding experiments with 125I-IGF-I and hybridization of a type I IGF receptor probe to RNA showed that the levels of the type I IGF receptor and its mRNA are increased 7- and 6.5-fold, respectively, by estradiol. IGF-I and estradiol had similar synergistic effects on other estrogen-responsive breast cancer cell lines, but IGF-I alone increased the proliferation of the MDA MB-231 cell line which is not responsive to estrogens. These experiments suggest that an important mechanism by which estrogens stimulate the proliferation of hormone-dependent breast cancer cells involves sensitization to the proliferative effects of IGFs and that this may involve regulation of the type I IGF receptor.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Pathology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Westley
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II