title: Suppression of MMQ cells by fulvestrant: possible mechanism of action and potential application for bromocriptine-resistant prolactinomas.
abstract: Bromocriptine is an effective treatment for most prolactinomas. Estrogen receptor (ER) antagonists are an alternative for treating patients with bromocriptine-resistant prolactinomas (BCRP). Previously, we reported that fulvestrant, a selective ER antagonist, significantly inhibited the proliferation of, and prolactin secretion by, MMQ cells, a prolactin-secreting rat pituitary cell line, an exemplary model for prolactinoma. In this study, we used fulvestrant to block ERα expression by MMQ cells and analyzed the expression of β-catenin and Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (WIF1) to investigate the effects of fulvestrant on the Wnt signaling pathway. In addition, we examined the gene expression of ERα, β-catenin and WIF1 in clinical BCRP specimens to explore the correlation between gender and clinical features. There was no significant difference in β-catenin expression between fulvestrant-treated cells and untreated cells, whereas WIF1 expression was higher in the treated cells. In clinical BCRP specimens, ERα expression was higher (especially in male patients), whereas β-catenin expression was similar to normal pituitaries. In addition, WIF1 expression was significantly lower in BCRP specimens than in normal pituitaries. The tumor volume was larger in male patients than in female patients. Prolactin concentration was positively correlated with tumor volume, and a positive linear correlation was observed between ERα expression and tumor volume. In conclusion, the anti-tumor activity of fulvestrant on MMQ cells seems to be associated with ERα and the non-canonical Wnt pathway, and higher ERα levels in male patients with BCRP may contribute to the larger tumor volumes observed. Fulvestrant holds promise as a therapeutic agent for BCRP.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Jiwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Songbai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.forename: Yazhuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D055815:Young Adult; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D051176:beta Catenin; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D001971:Bromocriptine; D004958:Estradiol