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Vitamin D receptors in breast cancer cells

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Summary

1,25-(OH)2-Vitamin D3, the active metabolite of vitamin D, is a secosteroid hormone with known differentiating activity in leukemic cells. Studies have demonstrated the presence of vitamin D receptors (VDR) in a wide range of tissues and cell types. Antiproliferative activity of 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 has been documented in osteosarcoma, melanoma, colon carcinoma, and breast carcinoma cells. This study was designed to analyze vitamin D receptor level in breast cancer cells as a marker of differentiation and as a predictor of growth inhibition by 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3.

VDR messenger RNA was found to be present in relatively high levels in well-differentiated cells and in low levels in poorly differentiated cells. All cell lines had detectable VDR mRNA. Radiolabeled ligand binding assay showed a similar pattern. MCF-7 and T47D cells, which express VDR at moderate levels, showed significant growth inhibition by 10−9 M 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 (p < 0.05). MDA-MB-231 cells, which have very low levels of VDR, demonstrated no growth inhibition by 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 at concentrations up to 10−6 M. Based on these results it can be stated that VDR expression is lost with de-differentiation and that receptor is essential for the antiproliferative response to 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery and Lombardi Cancer Research Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3800 Reservoir Road NW, 20007-2197, Washington, DC, USA

    Robert R. Buras, Lisa M. Schumaker, Fatemeh Davoodi, Richard V. Brenner, Mohsen Shabahang, Russell J. Nauta & Stephen R. T. Evans

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  1. Robert R. Buras
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Buras, R.R., Schumaker, L.M., Davoodi, F. et al. Vitamin D receptors in breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Res Tr 31, 191–202 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666153

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