Estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer tissue is chemosensitive in vitro compared with estrogen-receptor-positive tissue.
The chemosensitivities of 18 estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) tissues were compared with that of 38 estrogen-receptor-negative (ER-) tissues, using the in vitro succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test. These human breast tissue were exposed to six antitumor drugs: carboquone, adriamycin, mitomycin C, aclacinomycin A, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Decrease in succinate dehydrogenase activity was noted in ER- compared to ER+ tissues, exposed to six antitumor drugs, in particular to adriamycin (p less than 0.001) and aclacinomycin A (p less than 0.05). The sensitive rates were higher in ER- than in ER+ tissues, against all six antitumor drugs. The resistance rates to all drugs tested were 25% in ER- and 45% in ER+ tissues. A higher chemosensitivity is associated with the absence of ER. It appeared that the ER status in case of breast cancer is an important predictor of the response to chemotherapy.
Maehara
Y
Y
Department of Surgery II, Kyushu University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Emi
Y
Y
Sakaguchi
Y
Y
Kusumoto
T
T
Kakeji
Y
Y
Kohnoe
S
S
Sugimachi
K
K
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008593:Menopause; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase