mRNA expression of the type I growth factor receptors in the human breast cancer cells MCF-7: regulation by estradiol and tamoxifen.

Background: We recently confirmed, in a series of 365 human breast cancers, that EGFR and c-erbB-2 were associated with estradiol receptors (ER) and/or progesterone receptors (PgR)-negative tumors. Conversely, we demonstrated that c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 were positively related to ER and PgR. In the present paper, we simultaneously quantified, for the first time, the mRNA expression of these four receptors in response to estradiol and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen in the prototypical ER-positive human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

Materials And Methods: The mRNA expression of the type I growth factor receptors was quantified with a one-step real-time RT-PCR assay.

Results: Estradiol down-regulates the mRNA expression of the four receptors. The EGFR decrease is maximal (30% under the control) for 10(-11) M estradiol. For the three other receptors, the decrease (50% under the control) in mRNA expression is maximal with 10(-9) M. These effects are completely abolished by 4-OH tamoxifen at 10(-6) M.

Conclusion: In MCF-7 cells, we demonstrate that c-erbB-4 is down-regulated by estradiol and up-regulated by 4-OH tamoxifen, and confirm that the three other receptors followed the same pattern of expression.