Epidermal growth factor-induced nuclear factor kappa B activation: A majorpathway of cell-cycle progression in estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer cells

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of receptors (EGFR) is overproduce d in estrogen receptor (ER) negative (-) breast cancer cells. An inverse co rrelation of the level of EGFR and ER is observed between ER- and ER positi ve (+) breast cancer cells. A comparative study with EGFR-overproducing ER- and low-level producing ER+ breast cancer cells suggests that EGF is a maj or growth-stimulating factor for ER- cells. An outline of the pathway for t he EGF-induced enhanced proliferation of ER- human breast cancer cells is p roposed. The transmission of mitogenic signal induced by EGF-EGFR interacti on is mediated via activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B). The b asal level of active NF-kappa B in ER- cells is elevated by EGF and inhibit ed by anti-EGFR antibody (EGFR-Ab), thus qualifying EGF as a NF-kappa B act ivation factor. NF-kappa B transactivates the cell-cycle regulatory protein , cyclin D1. which causes increased phosphorylation of retinoblastoma prote in, more strongly in ER- cells. An inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3 kina se, Ly294-002, blocked this event. suggesting a role of the former in the a ctivation of NF-kappa B by EGF. Go6976. a well-characterized NF-kappa B inh ibitor, blocked EGF-induced NF-kappa B activation and up-regulation of cell -cycle regulatory proteins. This low molecular weight compound also caused apoptotic death, predominantly more in ER- cells. Thus Go6976 and similar N F-kappa B inhibitors are potentially novel low molecular weight therapeutic agents for treatment of ER- breast cancer patients.