Androgen receptors and hormone sensitivity of a human prostatic cancer cell line (PC-3) are modulated by natural beta-interferon.
Androgen receptors are expressed at a low level in the cell line PC-3, which does not respond to either androgens or antiandrogens. If these cells are exposed to natural beta-interferon (beta-IFN) a reduction in cell growth and an increase in androgen receptors, evaluated by both biochemical and immunocytochemical techniques, occur. This increase seems not to be related to a selective block of PC-3 in any phase of the cell cycle. Pretreatment with beta-IFN determines in PC-3 cells a partial responsiveness to the androgen dihydrotestosterone as reflected by the increase in cell number. Moreover, the antiandrogen hydroxyflutamide shows agonistic properties by increasing the cell number of PC-3 cells pre-exposed to beta-IFN. When the antiandrogen is tested in combination with interferon, it produces a reduction in the beta-IFN-induced inhibition of cell growth. It is not known whether these unexpected effects are due to the increase in androgen receptors or to other mechanisms.
Sica
G
G
Istituto di Istologia ed Embriologia Generale, Facoltà di Medicina, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Dell'Acqua
G
G
Iacopino
F
F
Fattorossi
A
A
Marchetti
P
P
van der Kwast
T H
TH
Pavone-Macaluso
M
M
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005485:Flutamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; C014290:hydroxyflutamide; D005485:Flutamide; D016899:Interferon-beta