Fd. Nardone et al., EFFECTS OF INTERFERON-BETA ON STEROID-RECEPTORS, PROSTAGLANDINS AND ENZYMATIC-ACTIVITIES IN HUMAN ENDOMETRIAL CANCER, Anticancer research, 16(1), 1996, pp. 161-169
Steroid receptors, prostaglandin output and enzymatic activities were
determined in explants derived from human endometrium exposed to natur
al interferon-beta (TFN-beta). Receptors and cell metabolism were eval
uated before culturing the tissue fragments and after a 3-day treatmen
t with varying concentrations of IFN-beta. Total steroid receptor leve
ls were unchanged when explants were set up, but there was a redistrib
ution of both estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR). A decre
ase in cytoplasmic receptors corresponded to an increase in receptor m
olecules within the nucleus. Treatment with low concentrations of IFN-
beta caused a significant enhancement (p < 0.05) of ER and PR in neopl
astic endometrium. In basal conditions the ratio between prostaglandin
F2 alpha (PgF2 alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PgE2) was higher in norma
l than in neoplastic endometrium. The addition of low concentrations o
f IFN-beta to the culture medium determined a significant increase (p
< 0.02) in PgF2 alpha and a parallel increase in the above ratio in ne
oplastic tissue, whilst no variation was found in normal endometrium.
Analysis of the results concerning the variations in hormone-related e
nzymatic activities due to IFN-beta revealed a significant increase (p
< 0.05) in 17 beta-Hydroxy-steroid-dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activi
ty. The data presented here indicate that treatment with IFN-beta modi
fies those biological characteristics of neoplastic cells which are in
volved in hormone-responsiveness.