In vitro effects of beta-interferon on steroid receptors and prostaglandin output in human endometrial adenocarcinoma.
The effect of natural beta-interferon (beta-IFN) on steroid receptor levels and output of prostaglandins (PGs) was investigated in human endometrial cancer. beta-IFN determines in endometrial adenocarcinoma explants an increase of cytosolic estradiol (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors at concentrations ranging from 10 to 1000 IU/ml of culture medium. Only cases in which there was an enhancement of at least 50% with respect to control values were considered. Low concentrations of beta-IFN (10 IU/ml of culture medium) produce an enhancement of ER in 60% and of PR in 42% of cases, while higher concentrations of beta-IFN (1000 IU/ml of culture medium) produce an enhancement of ER in 32%, and of PR in 82% of cases. Since PGs are involved in proliferation control in a large variety of tumors, we evaluated the ratio between PGF2-alpha and PGE2 levels in culture medium. This ratio increased, in our experimental model, after treatment with 10 and 1000 IU/ml of beta-IFN in 38% and 58% of cases respectively. Our data suggest that beta-IFN could affect cellular hormone sensitivity through a modification of ER and PR and it can also determine a variation of PG output in human endometrial cancer.
De Cicco
F
F
Department of Obstetrics, Universita' Cattolica del S. Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Sica
G
G
Benedetto
M T
MT
Ciabattoni
G
G
Rossiello
F
F
Nicosia
A
A
Lupi
G
G
Iacopino
F
F
Mancuso
S
S
Dell'Acqua
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone