Estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) expression in benign and malignant human bone tumors.
OBJECTIVE
17beta-estradiol regulates growth and differentiation in normal and malignant bone. E2 is inactivated to 17beta-estradiol-sulfate through estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1).


RESULTS
In an explorative study, SULT1E1 mRNA expression was assessed in a broad range of samples from benign, primary and secondary malignant bone tumors. We detected SULT1E1 mRNA in 31/50 tumor samples (10/19 malignant, 6/13 benign tumors; 15/18 metastases). Significantly more SULT1E1-positive samples were found in metastases than in primary bone tumors (P = 0.019). Yet, there was no difference between malignant and benign primary tumors (P = 0.718). SULT1E1 mRNA levels were not related to patients' age, gender, tumor location, stage, grading, and chemotherapy pretreatment. Relative SULT1E1 mRNA levels did not correlate with that of estrogen-receptor alpha (ERalpha) as assessed by quantitative TaqMan PCR (10 malignant, 8 benign tissue samples). In the latter, ERalpha mRNA, but not SULT1E1 mRNA levels were significantly lower than in the malignant samples (P = 0.006 and P = 0.71, respectively). Also, pronounced expression of SULT1E1 mRNA but not of ERalpha mRNA was observed in osteosarcoma (MG-63, HOS) and Ewing's sarcoma (TC-71) cells, while human osteoblasts and BMSC contained ERalpha but not SULT1E1 mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
Frequent expression of SULT1E1 mRNA in various human bone tumors suggests that sulfonation might be important to control E2 levels and activity.
Svoboda
Martin
M
Department of Pathophysiology, Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Thalhammer
Theresia
T
Aust
Sylvia
S
Arrich
Ferdi
F
Assadian
Ojan
O
Toma
Cyril D
CD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002648:Child; D004958:Estradiol / Q000502:physiology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015238:Sulfotransferases / Q000378:metabolism*
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004958:Estradiol; D015238:Sulfotransferases; C020122:estrone sulfotransferase