Phosphorylation, glycosylation, and proteolytic activity of the 52-kD estrogen-induced protein secreted by MCF7 cells.

We have studied the posttranslational modifications of the 52-kD protein, an estrogen-regulated autocrine mitogen secreted by several human breast cancer cells in culture (Westley, B., and H. Rochefort, 1980, Cell, 20:353-362). The secreted 52-kD protein was found to be phosphorylated mostly (94%) on high-mannose N-linked oligosaccharide chains, and mannose-6-phosphate signals were identified. The phosphate signal was totally removed by alkaline phosphatase hydrolysis. The secreted 52-kD protein was partly taken up by MCF7 cells via mannose-6-phosphate receptors and processed into 48- and 34-kD protein moieties as with lysosomal hydrolases. By electron microscopy, immunoperoxidase staining revealed most of the reactive proteins in lysosomes. After complete purification by immunoaffinity chromatography, we identified both the secreted 52-kD protein and its processed cellular forms as aspartic and acidic proteinases specifically inhibited by pepstatin. The 52-kD protease is secreted in breast cancer cells under its inactive proenzyme form, which can be autoactivated at acidic pH with a slight decrease of molecular mass. The enzyme of breast cancer cells, when compared with cathepsin D(s) of normal tissue, was found to be similar in molecular weight, enzymatic activities (inhibitors, substrates, specific activities), and immunoreactivity. However, the 52-kD protein and its cellular processed forms of breast cancer cells were totally sensitive to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (Endo H), whereas several cellular cathepsin D(s) of normal tissue were partially Endo H-resistant. This difference, in addition to others concerning tissue distribution, mitogenic activity and hormonal regulation, strongly suggests that the 52-kD cathepsin D-like enzyme of breast cancer cells is different from previously described cathepsin D(s). The 52-kD estrogen-induced lysosomal proteinase may have important functions in facilitating the mammary cancer cells to proliferate, migrate, and metastasize.

Inhibition of breast cancer growth by suramin.

In this study, the polyanionic compound suramin was shown to be a potent in vitro growth inhibitor of both hormone-insensitive, estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cells (MDA MB231 and SK-BR-3) and hormone-responsive, estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer cells (ZR 75-1, T47D, and MCF7). The inhibitory effect of suramin was dose dependent, with a median effective dose varying from 7 microM for MDA MB231 cells to 50 microM for MCF7 cells. This result indicated that estrogen receptor-negative cells were more sensitive to the drug. In MCF7 cells, not only did suramin block the mitogenic action of growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II, respectively), but it also totally abolished the increase in cell proliferation induced by the steroid hormone 17 beta-estradiol (E2). Maximal inhibition was obtained after 5 days of suramin treatment, and inhibition either was partially reversed by E2, IGF-I, and IGF-II or was not reversible by EGF following removal of drug. In addition, suramin significantly decreased synthesis and secretion of the lysosomal enzyme cathepsin D, which was shown to be associated with a high risk of breast tumor metastasis. These results therefore suggest that, because of its effects on growth and cathepsin D secretion, suramin might be a helpful additional therapeutic tool for breast cancer patients, especially for patients with estrogen receptor-negative tumors which are insensitive to antihormonal strategies.

Immunodetection of estrogen receptor and 52,000-dalton protein in fine needle aspirates of breast cancer tumors.

The double immunohistochemical detection of estrogen receptor (ER) and the estrogen-regulated 52,000-dalton protein (52kDa-P) was performed on 35 fine needle aspirates of primary breast cancers. The nuclear ER, stained brown, was differentiated from the 52kDa-P, stained in red, in the cytoplasm of the same cells. The significant correlation obtained between the percentages of positive aspirated cells and the cytosolic concentrations of these two markers showed the validity of semiquantitative detection in fine needle aspirates, which appeared to be more representative of the content of these markers in tumors than was the detection in a single tissue section. Tumor heterogeneity also was defined by this double immunostaining, since among the tumors positive for both ER and 52kDa-P (18 of 35 cases), a heterogeneous group of 12 tumors contained the markers in two distinct cell populations, whereas a more homogeneous group of 6 tumors contained double-stained cells. The first information provided by this study is that the 52kDa-P is not correlated with the ER. This absence of correlation is in accordance with other studies and indicates that the 52kDa-P is associated with tumor proliferation and possibly invasion, rather than with hormone responsiveness or differentiation. The feasibility and validity of double immunostaining of these two markers in human breast cancer aspirates should stimulate larger studies--with clinical follow-up of the patients--aimed at establishing the clinical usefulness of this presurgical test.

Expression of the progestin-induced fatty acid synthetase in benign mastopathies and breast cancer as measured by RNA in situ hybridization.

We have shown previously that fatty acid synthetase (FAS) is specifically induced by progestins in human breast cancer cell lines. To test the potential value of FAS as a clinical marker in breast diseases, we measured FAS expression in frozen sections of 22 benign and 27 malignant mammary tumors using in situ hybridization with the [35S]UTP alpha S-labeled FAS anti-sense mRNA. The hybridized RNA was quantified with an IMSTAR computerized image analyzer. We found FAS RNA in epithelial cells, but no labeling was detected in the connective tissue. In breast cancer, we found no correlation between FAS expression and estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor concentrations or status. However, the level of FAS was significantly (P less than .02) higher in premenopausal than in post-menopausal patients and increased with the grade of tumor differentiation (P less than .005 between the poorly and well-differentiated tumors). In benign mastopathies, high levels of FAS RNA were found in some cysts (mostly with apocrine metaplasia). In lobules, the FAS RNA level increased proportionally to the degree of proliferation determined by histological examination (P less than .015) and correlated with the H4 histone level measured in an adjacent section using in situ hybridization (r = 0.85, P less than .001). In ductal structures, a lower correlation (r = 0.64, P less than .01) was found between FAS and H4 RNA levels. We conclude that FAS RNA is overexpressed in some mammary tumors and may be useful in predicting high-risk mastopathies and less aggressive breast cancers.

Comparison between different forms of estrogen cytosol receptor and the nuclear receptor extracted by micrococcal nuclease.

As an approach to the mechanism of the nuclear translocation of estrogen receptor, the estradiol nuclear receptor (RN) of lamb endometrium was extracted with micrococcal nuclease at 2--4 degrees and compared to the "native" 8S and to the Ca2+-transformed cytosol receptors. After extensive digestion of chromatin, giving up to 10% perchloric acid-soluble DNA and a majority of nucleosome monomers, up to 80% of the RN was extracted and under low ionic strength. This RN was found to be completely different from the partially proteolyzed Ca2+-transformed cytosol receptor. It migrated with a sedimentation constant of 4 and 6 S. The Stokes radius of the predominant form as determined by ACA 34 chromatography was 5.3 nm. The calculated apparent molecular weights were 130,000 and 90,000, respectively. The RN was able to bind DNA and was eluted from a diethylaminoethyl cellulose column at 0.23 and 0.30 M KCl. We conclude that the mechanism proposed by Puca et al., according to which the Ca2+-transformed cytosol receptor is split by a Ca2+ receptor-transforming factor into a smaller form able to cross the nuclear membrane, is very unlikely.

Nuclear translocation of the estrogen receptor in autonomous C3H mouse mammary tumors.

The reason for estrogen independence of C3H mouse mammary tumors has been sought in the initial steps of estradiol action. The characteristics of the estrogen receptors were similar to those observed in estrogen-responsive tissues: high affinity and binding specificity, DNA binding and 8S sedimentation constant as shown by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Their concentration averaged 18.5 +/- 3.5 (S.E.) fmol/mg cytosol protein in the cytosol and 3.5 +/- 1.0 fmol/mg cytosol protein in the KCl nuclear extract. The nuclear translocation of the cytosol receptor was investigated with the use of biopsy and in vivo injections of radioactive estradiol. No nuclear translocation of estrogen receptor could be ascertained with the dextran-coated charcoal assay since the free and nonspecifically bound estrogen conjugate(s) were also assayed by this technique. However, when the estrogen-receptor complexes were estimated by more specific methods such as protamine sulfate or hydroxylapatite precipitations, the estrogen receptor translocation into the nucleus was clearly shown. We therefore conclude that the estrogen independence of C3H mammary tumors cannot be explained by a defect in the two initial steps of the mechanism of action of estradiol, namely, cytosol binding and nuclear translocation of receptors.

Characterization and properties of two monoclonal antibodies specific for the Mr 52,000 precursor of cathepsin D in human breast cancer cells.

The Mr 52,000 estrogen-induced protein secreted by MCF7 cells has been identified as a procathepsin D (procath D), which increases cell growth in vitro, may stimulate invasiveness by digesting extracellular matrix and appears to be a tissue marker for predicting relapses in breast cancer patients. The protease is also present within mammary cells as Mr 48,000, 34,000, 14,000 mature forms that were also recognized by the previously described antibodies to the Mr 52,000 protein (M. Garcia, F. Capony, D. Derocq, D. Simon, B. Pau, and H. Rochefort, Cancer Res., 45: 709-716, 1985). Using selective screening with a [35S]methionine-labeled MCF7 cell lysate, we have now isolated two new monoclonal antibodies interacting exclusively with the Mr 52,000 procath D. The two monoclonal antibodies, M2E8* and D9H8*, purified from ascitic fluids are IgG1. Their respective Kds for Mr 52,000 procath D are 0.96 and 0.18 nM. They are directed against two separate domains of the proenzyme that differ from the three domains of previously described antibodies. They both interact with the deglycosylated protein and recognize the autoactivated secreted proenzyme (Mr 51,000), which is devoid of the first part of the NH2-terminal end. By immunodetection of cathepsin D proteolytic activity in plasma, these two antibodies were found to recognize selectively human cathepsin D but not the cathepsin D of other species (rat, mouse, rabbit, goat, and horse) whereas antibodies to mature cathepsin D were less species specific. Using sequential passages on concanavalin A-Sepharose and Sepharose matrices coupled to antibodies to the precursor and antibodies to the mature cathepsin D, we separately purified to homogeneity the Mr 52,000 procath D form and its processed cellular forms, whose biological activities can now be assessed independently. The two monoclonal antibodies were also shown to inhibit the uptake and processing of the Mr 52,000 cathepsin D in MCF7 cells (mostly D9H8*) and to decrease its proteolytic activity, mostly on extracellular matrix (M2E8*). These two monoclonal antibodies are therefore new tools for studying the function, regulation, cellular processing, and localization of procath D as well as the clinical significance of its concentration in normal and tumoral mammary epithelial cells.

Estrogenic effects of physiological concentrations of 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol and its metabolism in MCF7 human breast cancer cells.

5-Androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol (ADIOL) has previously been shown to have a high affinity for the estrogen receptor and to translocate it to the nucleus in vitro and in vivo. This compound and related C19 delta 5-steroids of adrenal origin have now been examined for their ability to induce the synthesis in MCF7 cells of an estrogen-dependent secreted glycoprotein (M.W. 46,000). Concentrations required for half-maximum induction were 2 nM for ADIOL and 500 nM for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate showed weak inducing ability at concentrations of 1 microM or greater. The induction by ADIOL was unaffected by the presence of an aromatase inhibitor, and 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, which cannot be aromatized, also induced the M.W. 46,000 protein at low concentrations. When cells were exposed to 10 nM [3H]ADIOL, the cytosol and nuclear fractions contained [3H]ADIOL resistant to charcoal adsorption. The bound [3H]ADIOL in the cytosol and nucleus was displaceable by 17 beta-estradiol and tamoxifen, suggesting that it was binding to the estrogen receptor. [3H]ADIOL was metabolized to its 3 beta-sulfate, which was excreted into the medium, and to [3H]DHEA, which was found in the cells and the medium as free DHEA and its 3 beta-sulfate. [3H]DHEA was also metabolized by the cells to its 3 beta-sulfate, to free ADIOL, and to the 3 beta-sulfate of adiol. We conclude that: (a) ADIOL is effective as an estrogen in MCF7 cells at a concentration of 2 nM, which is within the range found in the blood of normal women; and (b) sulfurylation is a major route of inactivation of 3 beta-hydroxy delta 5-steroids in MCF7 cells.

Steroid receptor-mediated cytotoxicity of an antiestrogen and an antiprogestin in breast cancer cells.

The antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of 4-hydroxytamoxifen, an antiestrogen with a high affinity for the estrogen receptor, and of 17 beta-hydroxy-11 beta-(4-methylaminophenyl)-17-(1-propynyl)estra-4,9-dien-3- one-6-7 (RU486), an antiprogestin with a high affinity for the progestin receptor, have been studied on human breast cancer cell lines in culture. The number of dead cells was evaluated by several techniques (trypan blue stain exclusion, DNA cleavage, lactic dehydrogenase activity, morphological changes, and cloning efficiency in soft agar) and found to be increased both by the antiestrogen and the antiprogestin at concentrations correlating with the affinities for their respective receptors. This cytotoxic effect was prevented by the occupation of the respective receptors with estrogen and progestin and was not found in the estrogen receptor- and progestin receptor-negative MDA MB 231 and BT20 cell lines. The contrast between the ultrastructural modifications of chromatin and the integrity of mitochondria suggested that the antihormone-induced cell death was by apoptosis. We conclude that in addition to the receptor-mediated cytostatic activity and the nonspecific cytotoxic activity, antiestrogens trigger a third type of effect that we designate as "receptor-mediated cytotoxic." Similar conclusions can be drawn for the antiprogestin RU486, indicating moreover that the antihormone and antiproliferative activities of this drug are clearly dissociated. The mechanism of these receptor-mediated cytotoxic activities of antiestrogen and antiprogesterone is not known but does not seem to be explained entirely by the antihormone activity of these drugs.

Identification and androgen regulation of two proteins released by T47D human breast cancer cells.

Three [35S]methionine-labeled polypeptides released by T47D human breast cancer cells have been identified as corresponding to two proteins previously described in breast gross cystic disease fluid. A Mr 43,000 protein was immunoprecipitated by polyclonal antibodies to the Zn-alpha 2-glycoprotein. A Mr 18,000 and a Mr 13,000 polypeptide were both immunoprecipitated by four monoclonal antibodies directed against four separate epitopes of Mr 15,000 gross cystic disease fluid protein, a major protein that is characteristic of apocrine gland secretions. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, purified Mr 15,000 gross cystic disease fluid protein migrated at the level of the Mr 18,000 protein of T47D cells. The proteins were regulated by androgens and progestins. In addition to a general stimulation of protein secretion, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) specifically increased, by 2- to 20-fold, the release of the Mr 43,000 and Mr 18,000 proteins into the medium. DHT also increased the cellular level of the Mr 18,000 protein, as shown by immunoprecipitation with a Mr 15,000 gross cystic disease fluid protein antibody, which suggests a stimulation of protein synthesis. The progestin 17,21-dimethyl-19-nor-4,9-pregnadiene-3,20-dione also increased the release in the medium of the Mr 43,000 and Mr 18,000 proteins, but higher molar concentrations were required than in the case of DHT. The induction of these proteins by DHT and 17,21-dimethyl-19nor,4,9-pregnadiene-3,20-dione was specifically inhibited by the antiandrogen flutamide which has no effect on other progestin-regulated proteins. This suggests an effect mediated by the androgen receptor. This is the first report on the identification of two proteins induced by androgens in a human breast cancer cell line. These proteins should be useful in studying the role of androgens in human mammary tumors and their mechanism of action in cell culture.

Increased DNA binding of the estrogen receptor in an estrogen-resistant mammary cancer.

In the C3H mouse mammary adenocarcinoma, estradiol cannot induce the progesterone receptor, and the tumor growth rate is not decreased by ovariectomy. To find an explanation for this estrogen resistance, we have compared the estrogen receptor (ER) from this tumor to the ER of uterus and of the mammary tumors induced in rats by dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. Since the ER concentration of the C3H tumor is low (congruent to 20 fmol/mg protein), we have used iodoestradiol of high specific activity to label the receptor. Several criteria of ER activation were studied. The dissociation rates of estradiol with or without sodium molybdate were similar in all tissues. In metrizamide isopycnic gradients, ER from rat uterus and C3H tumor had a similar density, both in the presence or absence of DNA. The binding of ER to DNA-cellulose was analyzed by incubating to equilibrium a constant amount of ER with a variable amount of DNA, the cellulose concentration being kept constant. The saturation data were plotted according to the method of Scatchard. The apparent affinity for DNA of the cytosol ER was similar for the rat dimethylbenz(a)anthracene tumors and the uterus (Kd congruent to 10 microM) but was significantly higher for the C3H tumor ER (Kd congruent to 2.3 microM). Neither the substitution of estradiol by iodoestradiol, nor the difference in cytosol protein and ER concentrations, nor the nonspecific steroid binding to DNA-cellulose could explain this result. This difference was confirmed when using DNA-agarose or soluble DNA in sucrose gradients. Finally, the salt concentrations necessary to elute ER from DNA-cellulose columns were 0.20 and 0.28 M for uterine and C3H tumor ER, respectively. To conclude, the C3H tumor has a low content of ER which appears to have a higher affinity for DNA than the ER of estrogen-responsive tissue. We suggest that the reason for the inefficiency of ER in the C3H tumor may be related to its increased affinity for nonspecific DNA sites.

Tamoxifen and metabolites in MCF7 cells: correlation between binding to estrogen receptor and inhibition of cell growth.

The binding of [3H]tamoxifen ([3H]Tam), a nonsteroidal antiestrogen, and of 4-[3H]hydroxytamoxifen ([3H]OH-Tam), a metabolite accumulated in vivo in target cell nuclei, was characterized in soluble extracts of human breast cancer MCF7 cells growing in a medium depleted in estrogens. Saturation analysis indicated a much higher affinity for OH-Tam (Kd = 0.15 nM) than for Tam (Kd = 4.8 nM). The binding of [3H]Tam and [3H]estradiol was competitive and mutually exclusive, and the binding site concentration (0.16 to 0.47 pmol/mg total protein) was similar for both ligands, strongly suggesting that antiestrogens were binding to the estrogen receptor (ER) in these cells. The ability of Tam and of some of its metabolites or derivatives to prevent the MCF7 cell growth was found to be correlated with their affinity for ER as determined by direct interaction or by binding competition with [3H]estradiol on the uterine and MCF7 cytosol ER. OH-Tam was the highest-affinity compound and was 100-fold more active than Tam. The inhibitions observed were actually due to Tam and OH-Tam, respectively, since we did not detect any significant metabolism of these two labeled compounds by the MCF7 cells. N-desmethyltamoxifen, the other Tam metabolites found in high concentration in human plasma, was as effective as Tam while cis-tamoxifen appeared less effective. Compound E, which has no lateral chain, was the only tested compound having a good affinity for ER and a poor efficiency in preventing cell growth. These results support the hypothesis that antiestrogens control the growth of breast cancer by acting directly on the ER located in cancer cells.

Effect of estradiol on the ultrastructure of the MCF7 human breast cancer cells in culture.

We have analyzed the effect of estradiol and of two classes of antiestrogens on the morphology of the MCF7 human breast cancer cell line by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Estradiol progressively increased the number and the length of microvilli at the cell surface. The density of the microvilli network increased between 2 and 11 days of estrogen treatment, while the cells became more granular and less tightly attached to the surface of the dish. Estradiol also progressively transformed cells into secretory cells containing, at Day 2, large, clear mitochondria and, at Day 4, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex. At Day 6, secretory granules (diameter, 0.2 microM), which mainly contained glycoproteins, were first developed in the cytoplasm. By Day 8, they were concentrated at the cell membrane and being liberated into the medium. Larger granules (diameter, 0.8 microM), which probably contained lipids, were obtained later (Day 11). Cell cultures in 10% fetal calf serum not treated by charcoal contained secretory granules. The modifications were induced by physiological concentrations of estradiol but not 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Progesterone (10 nM for 8 days) completely inhibited the effect of estradiol on the microvilli and secretory activity. Tamoxifen or hydroxy-tamoxifen did not induce secretory activity but did alter the cell morphology compared to control cells. The effects of estradiol were observed in other estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cell lines (ZR 75-1, T 47 D) but not in an estrogen receptor-negative cell line (BT 20). This morphological evidence that estrogens modify the cell surface of breast cancer cells in culture and transform them into "secretory cells" complements evidence that a molecular weight of approximately 50,000 into the culture medium (Cell, 24: 352-362, 1980). (The molecular weight was found first to be 46,000. It seems to be closer to 52,000 in a 10% polyacrylamide gel and by using the NEN-labeled proteins as molecular weight markers.

In vitro degradation of extracellular matrix with Mr 52,000 cathepsin D secreted by breast cancer cells.

It has been proposed that proteases secreted by cancer cells facilitate metastasis by degrading extracellular matrix. Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells secrete a Mr 52,000 pro-cath-D under estrogen stimulation, whereas this protease is produced constitutively by estrogen receptor-negative cancer cells. We report on the degradation in vitro of extracellular matrix by purified Mr 52,000 cathepsin D (cath-D) and by conditioned media prepared from different cell lines. The purified Mr 52,000 pro-cath-D was autoactivated at pH 4.5 into a Mr 51,000 cath-D and found to digest the extracellular matrix of endothelial bovine corneal cells labeled with [3H]proline or [35S]methionine. Culture medium conditioned by estrogen-treated MCF7 cells had a similar effect at pH 4.5 but not at pH 7.4. Matrix degradation was totally inhibited by pepstatin. Other breast cancer cells (BT20, MDA-MB231, T47D cells, etc.) and other cancer cells also secreted a pepstatin-sensitive proteinase able to degrade extracellular matrix. By contrast, the U2 variant of MCF7 cells, which lacks the Mr 52,000 cath-D gene, and the nontumoral epithelial mammary cells secreted a negligible amount of this proteinase. In all conditioned media, the pepstatin-dependent extracellular matrix degrading activity was highly correlated to the Mr 52,000 cath-D concentration measured by immunoenzymatic assay. We conclude that the Mr 52,000 cath-D is the major acidic protease secreted by mammary cancer cells. We suggest that this protease may degrade basement membrane and consequently facilitate tumor invasion when it is released in an acidic microenvironment.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to the estrogen-regulated Mr 52,000 glycoprotein and their use in MCF7 cells.

The Mr 52,000 glycoprotein is regulated by estrogen and released by breast cancer cells in culture (B. Westley and H. Rochefort, Cell, 20: 352-362, 1980). This rare protein was partially purified from 25 liters of medium conditioned by MCF7 cells and injected into Biozzi's selected mice. The spleen lymphocytes of one immunized mouse was fused with the murine myeloma P3-X63-Ag8-653. Sixteen hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies to the Mr 52,000 protein were isolated, and seven of them were cloned and purified. The seven monoclonal antibodies were all of the immunoglobulin G1 isotype, and their dissociation constants ranged from 0.35 to 2.3 nM. The antibodies specifically recognized the secreted Mr 52,000 protein as evidenced by double immunoprecipitation and by immunoblotting after electrophoretic separation and transfer. Double-determinant immunoradiometric assay indicated that the seven purified monoclonal antibodies recognized three distinct regions of the Mr 52,000 protein, and it was used to assay the Mr 52,000 protein in biological fluids. These antibodies did not react with the external plasma membrane of MCF7 cells, as shown by immunofluorescence analysis. By contrast, the cytoplasm of MCF7 cells (but not T47D and RBA cells) was stained by the peroxidase-immunoperoxidase complex after plasma membrane permeation, indicating that the protein is secreted by exocytosis rather than shed from the plasma membrane.

Correlation between mannose-6-phosphate/IGFII receptor and cathepsin D RNA levels by in situ hybridization in benign and malignant mammary tumors.

We evaluated levels of mannose-6-phosphate/insulin growth factor-II receptor (M6P/IGFII-R) RNA in 37 breast cancer tumors by quantitative in situ hybridization using a computer-aided image analyzer and compared them to cathepsin D RNA and protein levels in the same tissues. Breast cancer cells expressed more cathepsin D and M6P/IGFII-R RNA than fibroblasts in the same tumors. We found a significant increase of cathepsin D RNA (P = 1 x 10(-5)) and M6P/IGFII-R RNA (P = 0.02) in breast cancer cells compared to epithelial cells of benign mastopathies. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.65; P = 1 x 10(-5)) between M6P/IGFII-R and cathepsin D RNA levels measured on serial sections. This contrasted with the inverse relationship of these 2 RNA species in breast cancer cell lines where estrogen down-regulates M6P/IGFII receptor RNA levels. Moreover, in vivo we found no correlation between the M6P/IGFII-R RNA level and menopausal or estrogen receptor status, suggesting that the in vivo regulation of M6P/IGFII-R RNA differs from its in vitro regulation in cell lines. The M6P/IGFII-R RNA level was not correlated with cathepsin D status, histological grade, and tumor size but was significantly higher in lymph node-positive tumors (P = 0.047). The M6P/IGFII-R could therefore be an additional parameter to predict aggressive breast cancers, complementing cathepsin D assays and other more classical prognostic parameters.

Increased secretion, altered processing, and glycosylation of pro-cathepsin D in human mammary cancer cells.

In human mammary cancer cells, pro-cathepsin D (pro-Cath-D) is induced by estrogens and 50% of it is secreted. To determine whether its secretion is characteristic of mammary cells or transformed cells, we compared its production, processing, and glycosylation in primary cultures of normal mammary epithelial cells to those found in breast cancer cell lines. The cytosolic concentration of total cathepsin D (precursor and mature enzyme) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was 8 times higher in cancer cells. Its mRNA level estimated by Northern blot analysis was 8 to 50 times higher and its secretion was 30 times higher in cancer cells. Using pulse-chase labeling, the cellular processing of pro-Cath-D was altered in hormone-dependent and -independent breast cancer cells in comparison to normal cells. This alteration resulted in a lower accumulation of mature enzyme, while the secretion and cytoplasmic accumulation of pro-Cath-D was greater in breast cancer cells than in normal cells. NH4Cl increased secretion of the proenzyme in normal cells but not in cancer cells. The secreted proenzyme was markedly heterogeneous and had a more acidic pI in MCF7 cells than in normal mammary cells. These acidic forms disappeared following endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H treatment indicating that the structural difference between pro-Cath-D of normal and of cancer mammary cells was located on high mannose or hybrid N-linked oligosaccharides. This difference may be responsible for the altered routing of the pro-Cath-D in breast cancer cells.

Induction of two estrogen-responsive proteins by antiestrogens in R27, a tamoxifen-resistant clone of MCF7 cells.

In an attempt to approach the mechanism by which estrogen and antiestrogen regulate the growth of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, we have studied the effects of the antiestrogens tamoxifen (TAM) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OH-TAM) on the induction of two estrogen-specific proteins in a variant of MCF7 cells termed R27, cloned for its ability to grow in the presence of TAM. We found that, in the R27 variant, antiestrogens as well as estradiol were able to increase specifically the production of a Mr 52,000 protein which was released into the culture medium. This protein was shown to be identical to the Mr 52,000 glyco-protein induced by estrogen and released by MCF7 cells on the basis of its specific inducibility by physiological concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol and of its resolution in two-dimensional gel analysis. Dose-response analysis showed that, in the R27 variant, TAM and OH-TAM acquired the ability to induce the Mr 52,000 protein at concentrations compatible with their relative affinities for the estrogen receptor, while these antiestrogens were inefficient in the wild MCF7 cells. Whereas the relative increase of the Mr 52,000 protein was similar with TAM, OH-TAM, and 17 beta-estradiol, the general production of Mr 52,000 and of total labeled proteins was less with the antiestrogens than with 17 beta-estradiol. Moreover, OH-TAM displayed a biphasic dose-response curve with inhibitory effects at concentrations above 10 nM, suggesting an additional mechanism. Neither TAM nor OH-TAM had any antiestrogenic effect when added in the presence of 17 beta-estradiol. In the R27 variant, both estradiol and antiestrogens induced the progesterone receptor sites; however, the extent of the stimulation was lower with antiestrogens than with estradiol. This study shows that, in addition to the classical antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer cells, in which the estrogen receptor is absent or inactive, there is another class of antiestrogen-resistant cells in which the drug becomes a full estrogen agonist as evidenced by the induction of the Mr 52,000 estrogen-specific protein, which is not induced in the wild-type cells.

Autocrine stimulation by estradiol-regulated growth factors of rat hormone-responsive mammary cancer: interaction with the polyamine pathway.

We have recently shown that the integrity of the polyamine pathway is essential but not sufficient for expression of the mitogenic effect of estradiol (E2) in the N-nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary tumor grown in vitro in the soft agar clonogenic assay. To elucidate the mechanism of E2 action in this system, we tested whether E2 may stimulate tumor growth through induction of secretory growth factor(s), as already proposed for human breast cancer cell lines in culture. Furthermore, we investigated the potential interaction between such "autocrine" control of tumor growth by E2 and the polyamine pathway. Conditioned medium obtained from E2-treated tumors (E2-CM) but not from control tumors (C-CM) consistently stimulated colony formation when added to N-nitrosomethylurea-mammary tumors plated in soft agar under serum-free media conditions. Such growth-promoting effects of the E2-CM was found to increase with increasing protein concentrations of the medium and was abolished by pretreatment of the medium with concanavalin A, heat, and trypsin. The addition of the polyamine biosynthetic inhibitor alpha-difluoromethylornithine (1 mM) totally abolished the colony-stimulating effect of the E2-CM. Exogenous administration of spermidine (0.1 mM) reversed the inhibitory effect of alpha-difluoromethylornithine on colony formation and restored the action of the E2-CM. Although the addition of polyamines alone did not affect the number of colonies formed, the administration of spermidine was found to significantly enhance in a dose-dependent fashion the colony-stimulating effect of suboptimal concentrations of E2-CM. Attempts to identify the E2-inducible growth factor in the E2-CM and in N-nitrosomethylurea-mammary tumor specimens using monoclonal antibodies raised against the Mr 52,000 E2-inducible protein gave negative results. We conclude that autocrine stimulation of tumor growth by E2 is not limited to human breast cancer cell lines but also occurs in individual experimental mammary tumors grown in soft agar. Our results show that the polyamines must be present for the expression of this "autocrine" control of tumor growth by E2. Finally, the identity of the E2-induced growth factor operating in our system remains to be determined.

Cathepsin D in breast cancer cells can digest extracellular matrix in large acidic vesicles.

In breast cancer cell lines, pro-cathepsin D is synthesized in excess and abnormally processed, resulting in its slower maturation and increased secretion into the culture medium. Since this lysosomal protease is only active at acidic pH, we have searched for acidic compartments other than lysosomes where cathepsin D might be active when MCF7 cells are plated on corneal extracellular matrix. We found large acidic intracellular vesicles (1.5 to 20 microns in diameter) by acridine orange and 3-(2,4-dinitroanilino)-3'-amino-N-methyldipropylamine staining, two fluorescent probes which reveal acidic compartments. These vesicles were actively acidified. They were 2- to 20-fold more abundant in MCF7 breast cancer cells and primary cultures of human breast cancers cells than in primary cultures of normal mammary epithelial cells. In living MCF7 cells, high resolution video-enhanced microscopy showed that these vesicles were mobile and intracellular. Double immunolocalization indicated that they contained mature cathepsin D (but no detectable pro-cathepsin D) and endocytosed extracellular material. This material (dextran, transferrin, and extracellular matrix) and the association with other lysosomal enzymes varied according to the vesicles, suggesting their heterogeneity (large endosomes or phagosomes). We conclude that, in breast cancer cells, cathepsin D may digest intracellularly phagocytosed and/or endocytosed extracellular matrix in large acidic vesicles. We propose that the higher expression of cathepsin D associated with the increased number of large acidic vesicles in breast cancer cells may facilitate digestion of basement membrane and consequently metastasis.