Estrogen promotes reversible epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transition and collective motility in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2007 Apr;104(1-2):11-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2006.09.039. Epub 2007 Jan 2.

Abstract

The role of estrogen in the motility and invasion of breast cancer cells is controversial. Although estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors are considered less aggressive and more differentiated they still undergo metastasis. In many types of epithelial cancers, the ability to undergo metastasis has been associated with a loss of epithelial features and acquisition of mesenchymal properties leading to migration of individual cells, a process known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this report, we show that a subset of ER-positive breast cancer cells can acquire mesenchymal-like features and motility in a reversible manner. In MCF-7 breast cancer cells estrogen-promoted acquisition of mesenchymal-like features while antiestrogens, such as tamoxifen, prevented this transition. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of Src family kinases decreased the ability of estrogen to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transition. In addition to mesenchymal-like motility, a subset of estrogen-treated cells also moved as cell clusters (collective motility). While membrane localization of E-cadherin/beta-catenin was decreased in fibroblast-like cells, enhanced levels of E-cadherin/beta-catenin were detected in motile cell clusters. Thus, during tumor progression, estrogen may foster motility and invasion of ER-positive breast cancer by promoting simultaneously reversible EMT-like changes and collective motility. These studies suggest that antiestrogen therapy and Src family kinase inhibitors may decrease development of metastases in ER-positive breast cancer by blocking estrogen-dependent migration of human breast cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / pharmacology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Epithelium / drug effects*
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Estrogens / pharmacology*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Mesoderm / drug effects*
  • Mesoderm / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Cadherins
  • Estrogens
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • beta Catenin
  • Tamoxifen