Abstract
Previous work from this laboratory demonstrated that MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells grown in nude mice contained minimal hypoxia but that tamoxifen treatment of these tumors resulted in increased hypoxia (Evans S. et al., Cancer Research, 1997). These findings led to studies exploring the link between estrogen signaling and tumor oxygenation and determining the role of VEGF in this process. The stimulation of estrogen-dependent MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells in vitro with β-estradiol resulted in a two-fold induction of VEGF mRNA and 1.3–2-fold increase in protein, similar to what was observed when these cells were exposed to 0.1% oxygen. Furthermore, the two stimuli given together had an additive effect on (increasing) VEGF expression, suggesting that the combination of hypoxia and estrogen may be important in upregulating VEGF in some breast cancers. Estrogen-independent MCF-7-5C cells, developed by growing MCF-7 cells in long-term culture in estrogen-free media, were also studied. Using EF5, a fluorinated 2-nitroimidazole which localizes to hypoxic cells, MCF-7-5C tumors grown in nude mice were found to contain lower pO2 levels and more hypoxic regions than similarly grown MCF-7 tumors. We tested the hypothesis that this might be the result of defective expression of VEGF in MCF-7-5C cells in response to β-estradiol and/or hypoxia. However, MCF-7-5C and MCF-7 cells showed a similar induction of VEGF in vitro in response to either β-estradiol or hypoxia. Therefore, although these two cell lines grown as tumors have substantial differences in the presence and patterns of hypoxia, this could not be explained by a difference in VEGF induction.
References
Brown JM, Giaccia AJ: The unique physiology of solid tumors: opportunities (and problems) for cancer therapy. Cancer Res 58: 1408-1416, 1998
Vaupel P, Thews O, Kelleher DK, Hoeckel M: Current status of knowledge and critical issues in tumor oxygenation. Results from 25 years research in tumor pathophysiology. Adv Exp Med Biol 454: 591-602, 1998.
Brizel DM, Scully SP, Harrelson JM, Layfield LJ, Bean JM, Prosnitz LR, Dewhirst MW: Tumor oxygenation predicts for the likelihood of distant metastases in human soft tissue sarcoma. Cancer Res 56: 941-943, 1996
Brizel DM, Sibley GS, Prosnitz LR, Scher RL, Dewhirst MW: Tumor hypoxia adversely affects the prognosis of carcinoma of the head and neck. Int J Rad Oncol Biol Phys 38: 285-289, 1997
Fyles AW, Milosevic M, Wong R, Kavanagh MC, Pintilie M, Sun A, Chapman W, Levin W, Manchul L, Keane TJ, Hill RP: Oxygenation predicts radiation response and survival in patients with cervix cancer. Radiother Oncol 48: 149-156, 1998
Hockel M, Schlenger K, Aral B, Mitze M, Schaffer U, Vaupel P: Association between tumor hypoxia and malignant progression in advanced cancer of the uterine cervix. Cancer Res 56: 4509-4515, 1996
Evans SM, Koch CJ, Laughlin KM, Jenkins WT, Van Winkle T, Wilson DF: Tamoxifen induces hypoxia in MCF-7 xenografts. Cancer Res 57: 5155-5161, 1997
Li CY, Shan S, Huang Q, Braun RD, Lanzen J, Hu K, Lin P, Dewhirst MW: Initial stages of tumor cell-induced angiogenesis: evaluation via skin window chambers in rodent models. J Natl Cancer Inst 92: 143-147, 2000
Hanahan D, Folkman J: Patterns and emerging mechanisms of the angiogenic switch during tumorigenesis. Cell 86: 353-364, 1996
Veikkola T, Alitalo K: VEGFs, receptors and angiogenesis. Sem Cancer Biol 9: 211-220, 1999
Zhang HT, Craft P, Scott PA, Ziche M, Weich HA, Harris AL, Bicknell R: Enhancement of tumor growth and vascular density by transfection of vascular endothelial cell growth factor into MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. J Natl Cancer Inst 87: 213-219, 1995
Yoshiji H, Harris SR, Thorgeirsson UP: Vascular endothelial growth factor is essential for initial but not continued in vivo growth of human breast carcinoma cells. Cancer Res 57: 3924-3928, 1997
Borgstrom P, Gold DP, Hillan KJ, Ferrara N: Importance of VEGF for breast cancer angiogenesis in vivo: implications from intravital microscopy of combination treatments with an anti-VEGF neutralizing monoclonal antibody and doxorubicin. Anticancer Res 19: 4203-4214, 1999
Locopo N, Fanelli M, Gasparini G: Clinical significance of angiogenic factors in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 52: 159-173, 1998
Shweiki D, Itin A, Soffer D, Keshet E: Vascular endothelial growth factor induced by hypoxia may mediate hypoxiainitiated angiogenesis. Nature 359: 843-845, 1992
Semenza GL: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1: master regulator of O2 homeostasis. Curr Opin Genet Develop 8: 588-594, 1998
Hyder SM, Stancel GM, Chiappetta C, Murthy L, Boettger-Tong HL, Makela S: Uterine expression of vascular endothelial growth factor is increased by estradiol and tamoxifen. Cancer Res 56: 3954-3960, 1996
Cullinan-Bove K, Koos RD: Vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor expression in the rat uterus: rapid stimulation by estrogen correlates with estrogen-induced increases in uterine capillary permeability and growth. Endocrinology 133: 829-37, 1993.
Nakamura J, Savinov A, Lu Q, Brodie A: Estrogen regulates vascular endothelial growth/permeability factor expression in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors. Endocrinology 137: 5589-5596, 1996
Shifren JL, Tseng JF, Zaloudek CJ, Ryan IP, Meng YG, Ferrara N, Jaffe RB, Taylor RN: Ovarian steroid regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor in the human endometrium: implications for angiogenesis during the menstrual cycle and in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 81: 3112-3118, 1996
Ruohola JK, Valve EM, Karkkainen MJ, Joukov V, Alitalo K, Harkonen PL: Vascular endothelial growth factors are differentially regulated by steroid hormones and antiestrogens in breast cancer cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 149: 29-40, 1999
Charnock-Jones DS, Sharkey AM, Boocock CA, Ahmed A, Plevin R, Ferrara N, Smith SK: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor localization and activation in human trophoblast and choriocarcinoma cells. Biol Reprod 51: 524-530, 1994
Garrido C, Saule S, Gospodarowicz D: Transcriptional regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in ovarian bovine granulosa cells. Growth Factors 8: 109-17, 1993
Jordan VC, Morrow M: Tamoxifen, raloxifene, and the prevention of breast cancer. Endocrine Rev 20: 253-278, 1999
Kuiper GG, Enmark E, Pelto-Huikko M, Nilsson S, Gustafsson JA: Cloning of a novel receptor expressed in rat prostate and ovary. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93: 5925-5930, 1996
Jiang SY, Wolf DM, Yingling JM, Chang C, Jordan VC: An estrogen receptor positive MCF-7 clone that is resistant to antiestrogens and estradiol. Mol Cell Endocrinol 90: 77-86, 1992
Lord EM, Harwell L, Koch CJ: Detection of hypoxic cells by monoclonal antibody recognizing 2-nitroimidazole adducts. Cancer Res 53: 5721-5726, 1993
Koch CJ: A thin-film culturing technique allowing rapid gasliquid equilibration (6 sec) with no toxicity to mammalian cells. Rad Res 97: 434-442, 1984
Berse B, Brown LF, Van de Water L, Dvorak HF, Senger DR: Vascular permeability factor (vascular endothelial growth factor) gene is expressed differentially in normal tissues, macrophages, and tumors. Mol Biol Cell 3: 211-220, 1992
Maity A, Solomon D: Increased stability and transcription both contribute to the induction of the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) message by hypoxia. Exp Cell Res 255: 250-257, 2000
Koch CJ, Evans SM, Lord EM: Oxygen dependence of cellular uptake of EF5 [2-(2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-N-(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl)a cet amide]: analysis of drug adducts by fluorescent antibodies versus bound radioactivity. Br J Cancer 72: 869-874, 1995
Laughlin KM, Evans SM, Jenkins WT, Tracy M, Chan CY, Lord EM, Koch CJ: Biodistribution of the nitroimidazole EF5 (2-[2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl]-N-(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl) acetamide) in mice bearing subcutaneous EMT6 tumors. J Pharmacol Exp Therapeut 277: 1049-1057, 1996
Evans SM, Hahn S, Pook DR, Jenkins WT, Chalian AA, Zhang P, Stevens C, Weber R,W einstein G, Benjamin I, Mirza N, Morgan M, Rubin S, McKenna WG, Lord EM, Koch CJ: Detection of hypoxia in human squamous cell carcinoma by EF5 binding. Cancer Res 60: 2018-2024, 2000
Forsythe JA, Jiang BH, Iyer NV, Agani F, Leung SW, Koos RD, Semenza GL: Activation of vascular endothelial growth factor gene transcription by hypoxia-inducible factor 1. Mol Cell Biol 16: 4604-4613, 1996
Hyder SM, Nawaz Z, Chiappetta C, Stancel GM: Identification of functional estrogen response elements in the gene coding for the potent angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor. Cancer Res 60: 3183-3190, 2000
Gasparini G, Toi M, Gion M, Verderio P, Dittadi R, Hanatani M, Matsubara I, Vinante O, Bonoldi E, Boracchi P, Gatti C, Suzuki H, Tominaga T: Prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor protein in node-negative breast carcinoma. J Natl Cancer Inst 89: 139-147, 1997
Linderholm B, Tavelin B, Grankvist K, Henriksson R: Vascular endothelial growth factor is of high prognostic value in node-negative breast carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 16: 3121-3128, 1998
Linderholm B, Grankvist K, Wilking N, Johansson M, Tavelin B, Henriksson R: Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor content with recurrences, survival, and first relapse site in primary node-positive breast carcinoma after adjuvant treatment. J Clin Oncol 18: 1423-1431, 2000
Kondo Y, Arii S, Mori A, Furutani M, Chiba T, Imamura M: Enhancement of angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis by transfection of vascular endothelial growth factor into LoVo human colon cancer cell line. Clin Cancer Res 6: 622-630, 2000
Rowe DH, Huang J, Kayton ML, Thompson R, Troxel A, O'Toole KM, Yamashiro D, Stolar CJ, Kandel JJ: Anti-VEGF antibody suppresses primary tumor growth and metastasis in an experimental model of Wilms’ tumor. J Pediat Surg 35: 30-32, (discussion) 32-33, 2000
Melnyk O, Shuman MA, Kim KJ: Vascular endothelial growth factor promotes tumor dissemination by a mechanism distinct from its effect on primary tumor growth. Cancer Res 56: 921-924, 1996
Warren RS, Yuan H, Matli MR, Gillett NA, Ferrara N: Regulation by vascular endothelial growth factor of human colon cancer tumorigenesis in a mouse model of experimental liver metastasis. J Clin Invest 95: 1789-1797, 1995
Dvorak HF, Nagy JA, Feng D, Brown LF, Dvorak AM: Vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor and the significance of microvascular hyperpermeability in angiogenesis. Curr Topics Microbiol Immunol 237: 97-132, 1999
MacMahon B, Cole P, Brown J: Etiology of human breast cancer: a review. J Natl Cancer Inst 50: 21-42, 1973
Trichopoulos D, MacMahon B, Cole P: Menopause and breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst 48: 605-613, 1972
MacMahon B, Cole P, Lin TM, Lowe CR, Mirra AP, Ravnihar B, Salber EJ, Valaoras VG, Yuasa S: Age at first birth and breast cancer risk. Bull World Health Org 43: 209-221, 1970
Brinton LA, Hoover R, Fraumeni JF Jr: Reproductive factors in the aetiology of breast cancer. Br J Cancer 47: 757-762, 1983
Gao YT, Shu XO, Dai Q, Potter JD, Brinton LA, Wen W, Sellers TA, Kushi LH, Ruan Z, Bostick RM, Jin F, Zheng W: Association of menstrual and reproductive factors with breast cancer risk: results from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study. Int J Cancer 87: 295-300, 2000
Hrushesky WJ, Bluming AZ, Gruber SA: Menstrual influence on surgical cure of breast cancer [letter]. Lancet 335: 984, 1990
Badwe RA, Gregory WM, Chaudary MA, Richards MA, Bentley AE, Rubens RD, Fentiman IS: Timing of surgery during menstrual cycle and survival of premenopausal women with operable breast cancer [see comments]. Lancet 337: 1261-1264, 1991
Senie RT, Rosen PP, Rhodes P, Lesser ML: Timing of breast cancer excision during the menstrual cycle influences duration of disease-free survival [see comments]. Ann Internal Med 115: 337-42, 1991.
Veronesi U, Luini A, Mariani L, Del Vecchio M, Alvez D, Andreoli C, Giacobone A, Merson M, Pacetti G, Raselli R et al.: Effect of menstrual phase on surgical treatment of breast cancer [see comments]. Lancet 343: 1545-1547, 1994
Badwe RA, Mittra I, Havaldar R: Timing of surgery with regard to the menstrual cycle in women with primary breast cancer. Surg Clin North Am 79: 1047-1059, 1999
Heer K, Kumar H, Speirs V, Greenman J, Drew PJ, Fox JN, Carleton PJ, Monson JR, Kerin MJ: Vascular endothelial growth factor in premenopausal women—indicator of the best time for breast cancer surgery? Br J Cancer 78: 1203-1207, 1998
Brown JM: The hypoxic cell: a target for selective cancer therapy-eighteenth Bruce F. Cain Memorial Award lecture. Cancer Res 59: 5863-5870, 1999
Fisher B, Dignam J, Bryant J, DeCillis A, Wickerham DL, Wolmark N, Costantino J, Redmond C, Fisher ER, Bowman DM, Deschenes L, Dimitrov NV, Margolese RG, Robidoux A, Shibata H, Terz J, Paterson AH, Feldman MI, Farrar W, Evans J, Lickley HL: Five versus more than five years of tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer patients with negative lymph nodes and estrogen receptor-positive tumors [see comments]. J Natl Cancer Inst 88: 1529-1542, 1996
Borner MM, Bacchi M, Castiglione M: Possible deleterious effect of tamoxifen in premenopausal women with locoregional recurrence of breast cancer. Eur J Cancer 32A: 2173-2176, 1996
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maity, A., Sall, W., Koch, C.J. et al. Low pO2 and β-Estradiol Induce VEGF in MCF-7 and MCF-7-5C Cells: Relationship to in vivo Hypoxia. Breast Cancer Res Treat 67, 51–60 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010662905549
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010662905549