Selective interactions between mammary epithelial cells and fibroblasts in co-culture.
Paracrine interactions between breast-cancer cells (MCF7) and stromal fibroblasts were studied in relation to the presence of steroid hormones, using co-cultures in which the 2 populations were separated by a microporous membrane. Densities and DNA-synthesis rates of the co-existing populations were interrelated. Proliferation was, therefore, viewed as the cumulative result of several factors, some of which are non-specific, e.g., are density-dependent, and some are specifically related to the feeders' origin and/or to culture conditions. Specific effects were measured and evaluated by stepwise analysis of covariance. MCF7 stimulated proliferation of fibroblasts differentially. Malignant-tumour fibroblasts were stimulated more than non-pathological ones. The magnitude of these effects was dependent on the presence of steroids. A similar analytical method was used for evaluating differential stromal influences on 4 epithelial phenotypic characters commonly used as prognostic markers. The estrogen-receptor, progesterone-receptor, pS2 and cathepsine-D phenotypes of MCF7, as well as their interrelations, were dependent on the origin of the fibroblasts, i.e., embryonic or adult, normal or tumoral.
Adam
L
L
Institut d'Oncologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire Humaine, Bobigny, France.
Crepin
M
M
Lelong
J C
JC
Spanakis
E
E
Israel
L
L
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D002402:Cathepsin D