Biological Effects of Adrenal Androgens on MCF-7 and BT-20 Human Breast Cancer Cells

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Abstract
The MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line responds to 5-androstene-3β,17β-diol, to dehydro-epiandrosterone and to its 3β-sulfate stimulation in vitro by increased proliferation. 5-Androstene-3β,17β-diol has the strongest mitogenic effect. Dehydroepiandrosterone has a more potent action on cell proliferation than its 3β-sulfate. These adrenal androgens do not stimulate proliferation of the estrogen receptors negative for the BT-20 cell line. In our conditions, we have failed to demonstrate MCF-7 estradiol formation when incubations were carried out in the presence of labeled adrenal androgens. These results suggest that adrenal androgens stimulate proliferation of MCF-7 cells directly by acting on estrogen receptors.