Influence of serum from healthy or breast tumor-bearing women on the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
Sera from women healthy (HW) or with breast (BCW), ovarian or endometrial cancer, were added (10%) to the culture media of MCF-7 cells and cell proliferation assessed 4 days later to verify: a) whether sera from BCW, obtained before or 8 days after tumor ablaction, influence the proliferation of these cells, b) whether the effects of serum from BCW are specific for mammary tumor cells. Sera from BCW, but not sera from women with ovarian or endometrial cancer, increased MCF-7 cell proliferation in comparison with sera from HW. After surgical ablation of the breast tumors, serum's ability to increase MCF-7 cell proliferation decreased significantly. These effects cannot be explained by differences on serum levels of estradiol or melatonin. These results suggest the presence of growth-promoting substances of possible tumoral origin in serum of BCW, a fact that should be considered as support for the surgical treatment of tumor masses.
Cos
S
S
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
Alvarez
A
A
Mediavilla
M D
MD
Bartsch
C
C
Bartsch
H
H
Sanchez-Barcelo
E J
EJ
D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D002455:Cell Division; D003470:Culture Media; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood; D018299:Neoplasms, Ductal, Lobular, and Medullary / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D003470:Culture Media; D004958:Estradiol; D008550:Melatonin