2-methoxyestradiol inhibits Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma growth and differentiation through differential regulation of the beta-catenin-E-cadherin axis

Mol Cancer Ther. 2010 Mar;9(3):523-34. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-09-0845. Epub 2010 Mar 2.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME(2)), a promising anticancer agent, modulates Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma (BEAC) cell growth and behavior through a cellular pathway involving beta-catenin in partnership with E-cadherin, which seems to play a critical role in the induction of antitumor responses in cancer cells. We found that 2-ME(2) markedly reduced the BEAC cell proliferation through regulating apoptotic machinery such as Bcl-2 and Bax. It may nullify the aggressive behavior of the cells by reducing the migratory behavior. Expressions of beta-catenin and E-cadherin and binding of these two proteins is activated in a 2-ME(2)-dependent fashion in Bic-1 cells. Moreover, overexpressions of these two proteins may be due to the stabilization of these proteins by 2-ME(2). We found that 2-ME(2)-induced antimigratory effects are mediated through the beta-catenin-E-cadherin signaling pathways. In view of these results, we determined whether 2-ME(2) reduces BEAC tumor growth. Administration of 2-ME2 significantly decreased the growth of BEAC cells xenografted on the flank of nude mice. The evidence presented points out that the effect of 2-ME(2) on beta-catenin-orchestrated signal transduction plausibly plays a multifaceted functional role to inhibit the proliferation and cell migration of 2-ME(2)-treated malignant cells and it could be a potential candidate in novel treatment strategies for Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 2-Methoxyestradiol
  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Barrett Esophagus / drug therapy
  • Barrett Esophagus / metabolism
  • Barrett Esophagus / pathology*
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Cadherins / physiology
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Estradiol / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / physiology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cadherins
  • beta Catenin
  • Estradiol
  • 2-Methoxyestradiol