If exposure to xenoestrogens or electromagnetic fields (EMFs) such as
60 Hz contributes to the etiology of breast cancer, it is likely that
they must stimulate the growth of breast cells, damage genetic materia
l or enhance the effects of other mitogenic or mutagenic agents (co-pr
omotion). Therefore, the ability of xenoestrogens or exposure to 60-Hz
fields to stimulate the entry of growth-arrested human breast cancer
cells into the cell cycle was determined using cyclin-dependent kinase
2 (Cdk2) activity, synthesis of cyclin D1 and cdc2 activity. Exposure
of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 or T-47D cells to estrogen and xe
noestrogens (DDT and Red No. 3) increased Cdk2 and cyclin B1-cdc2 acti
vity and cyclin D1 synthesis. Exposure of breast cancer cells to 12 mG
or 1 or 9 G electromagnetic fields at 60 Hz failed to stimulate Cdk2
or cyclin B1-cdc2 activity or cyclin D1 synthesis. Simultaneous co-exp
osure of cells to 60-Hz fields and chemical promoters did not enhance
Cdk2 activation above the levels produced by the chemical promoter alo
ne. Estrogen and xenoestrogens also stimulated binding of the estrogen
receptor to the estrogen receptor element but the EMF did not. Phorbo
l 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced phosphorylation of p53 and pRb
105 in MCF-7 cells, but EMF exposure had no effect. DNA-damaging chemo
therapeutic agents and Red Dye No. 3 were found to increase p53 site-s
pecific DNA binding in breast cancer cells, but EMF exposure did not.
Differential display analysis failed to detect any effect of EMF expos
ure on gene expression in MCF-7 cells, whereas the effects of estradio
l were detected. These studies suggest that estrogen and xenoestrogens
stimulate growth-arrested breast cancer cells to enter the growth cyc
le, but EMF exposure does not. Site-specific p53-DNA binding was incre
ased in MCF-7 cells treated with DNA-damaging agents, but not by EMF e
xposure. EMF exposure does not appear to act as a promoter or DNA-dama
ging agent for human breast cancer cells in vitro. (C) 1996 by Radiati
on Research Society