HUMAN ESTROGEN SULFOTRANSFERASE (HEST1) ACTIVITIES AND ITS MESSENGER-RNA IN VARIOUS BREAST-CANCER CELL-LINES - EFFECT OF THE PROGESTIN, PROMEGESTONE (R-5020)

Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification it was possible to detect the presence of type 1 human estrogen sulfotra nsferase (hEST1) mRNA in the hormone-dependent: MCF-7 and T-47D, and h ormone-independent: MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, human breast cancer cel ls. The expression of this mRNA is significantly higher in the MDA-MB- 468 cells and a correlation of this mRNA expression with the enzymatic activity was observed. The progestin promegestone (R-5020) at a low c oncentration (5 x 10(-7) M) can significantly increase the estrogen su lfotransferase activity and its mRNA in the hormone-dependent MCF-7 an d T-47D cells. As estrogen sulfates are biologically inactive, the sti mulatory effect on sulfotransferase by promegestone may open attractiv e possibilities in the control of estradiol in human breast cancer. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.