Short report

Effect of transforming growth factor ß₂ on oestrogen metabolism in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

Hakan Erbas¹ and Leslie C Lai¹

¹ Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolic Medicine, The Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK

Correspondence to:
Professor Lai, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia email: leslie{at}medic.upm.edu.my

Transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) is a multifunctional regulator of cellular growth and differentiation in many cell types and has a growth inhibitory effect on mammary epithelial cells. The TGF-ß₂ isoform has been shown to be present in high concentrations in breast cyst fluid and might have a protective role in breast cancer. In addition, oestrogens play an important role in breast cancer development, and oestrone sulphate (E₁S) might be the main source of active oestrogens in the breast. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of TGF-ß₂ on oestrogen synthesis in an attempt to understand the mechanism by which TGF-ß₂ may exert a protective effect in breast cancer. In this study, higher concentrations of TGF-ß₂ significantly inhibited the conversion of E₁S to oestrone (E₁) and the conversion of E₁ to the potent oestrogen, oestradiol (E₂). TGF-ß₂ did not have any effect on MCF-7 cell growth or on E₂ to E₁ conversion. In conclusion, TGF-ß₂ might exert a protective role in breast cancer by reducing the amount of active oestrogens present in the breast.

Key Words: transforming growth factor ß₂ • oestrone sulphatase • oestradiol-17ß hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase • breast cancer

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