E-cadherin mediates the aggregation of breast cancer cells induced by tamoxifen and epidermal growth factor.
In the present study, we evaluated the ability of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) to regulate homotypic adhesion in MCF7 breast cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that OHT and EGF activate the E-cadherin promoter, increase E-cadherin mRNA and protein expression and enhance homotypic aggregation of MCF7 cells. Interestingly, an ERalpha and EGFR cross-talk is involved in the E-cadherin expression by OHT and EGF, as demonstrated by knocking down either receptor. On the basis of our findings, the well-established cross-talk between ERalpha and EGFR could be extended to the modulation of E-cadherin expression by OHT and EGF. Thus, the potential ability of tamoxifen to induce cell-cell aggregation may contribute to the biologic response of pharmacologic intervention in patients with breast cancer.
Mauro
Loredana
L
Department Cellular Biology, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Arcavacata-Rende (CS), 87030, Italy.
Pellegrino
Michele
M
Lappano
Rosamaria
R
Vivacqua
Adele
A
Giordano
Francesca
F
Palma
Maria Grazia
MG
Andò
Sebastiano
S
Maggiolini
Marcello
M
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D015820:Cadherins; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D013629:Tamoxifen; C016601:afimoxifene; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors