Efavirenz directly modulates the oestrogen receptor and induces breast cancer cell growth.
OBJECTIVE
Efavirenz-based HIV therapy is associated with breast hypertrophy and gynaecomastia. Here, we tested the hypothesis that efavirenz induces gynaecomastia through direct binding and modulation of the oestrogen receptor (ER).


METHODS
To determine the effect of efavirenz on growth, the oestrogen-dependent, ER-positive breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, T47D and ZR-75-1 were treated with efavirenz under oestrogen-free conditions in the presence or absence of the anti-oestrogen ICI 182,780. Cells treated with 17β-oestradiol in the absence or presence of ICI 182,780 served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Cellular growth was assayed using the crystal violet staining method and an in vitro receptor binding assay was used to measure the ER binding affinity of efavirenz.


RESULTS
Efavirenz induced growth in MCF-7 cells with an estimated effective concentration for half-maximal growth (EC(50)) of 15.7 μM. This growth was reversed by ICI 182,780. Further, efavirenz binds directly to the ER [inhibitory concentration for half maximal binding (IC(50)) of ∼52 μM] at a roughly 1000-fold higher concentration than observed with 17β-oestradiol.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that efavirenz-induced gynaecomastia may be caused, at least in part, by drug-induced ER activation in breast tissues.
Sikora
M J
MJ
Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Rae
J M
JM
Johnson
M D
MD
Desta
Z
Z
D000480:Alkynes; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D006177:Gynecomastia / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008297:Male; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000480:Alkynes; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D004958:Estradiol; C098320:efavirenz
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