Codegoni AM, Landoni F, Lomonico S, Losa G, Mangioni C, Taverna M, Lucchini V, D'Incalci M. Interferon-beta can induce progesterone receptors in human endometrial adenocarcinoma.
Cancer 1996;
78:448-53. [PMID:
8697390 DOI:
10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19960801)78:3<448::aid-cncr11>3.0.co;2-z]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The induction of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PGR) has been reported in breast and endometrial cancer cells exposed to human fibroblast interferon-beta (hIFN-beta). Clinical verification of this finding might provide the rationale for new therapeutic approaches. This study was designed to evaluate whether clinical treatment with high doses of hIFN-beta induced ER and PGR in patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma.
METHODS
Two biopsies were obtained, 1 before and 1 after hIFN-beta treatment (3 x 10(6) i.m. every other day for 3 weeks) from 36 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma. ER and PGR were determined with standard procedures using radiolabeled ligands.
RESULTS
hIFN-beta treatment did not affect the proportion of ER-positive (i.e., >15 fmol/mg protein) or PGR-positive (i.e., >20 fmol/mg protein) cases. However, in patients with detectable ER and PGR at baseline, hIFN-beta raised the levels. Using a 35% difference before and after therapy as a cut-off, 72 and 79% of cases had increases in ER and PGR, respectively. The difference was highly significant for PGR.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma with undetectable ER or PGR, hIFN-beta did not induce the expression of these receptors. When the receptors were present they were upregulated by hIFN-beta. Whether this increase in receptor levels, particularly PGR, has therapeutic applications remains to be established.
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