Combination of cyclopamine and tamoxifen promotes survival and migration of mcf-7 breast cancer cells--interaction of hedgehog-gli and estrogen receptor signaling pathways

PLoS One. 2014 Dec 12;9(12):e114510. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114510. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Hedgehog-Gli (Hh-Gli) signaling pathway is one of the new molecular targets found upregulated in breast tumors. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) signaling has a key role in the development of hormone-dependent breast cancer. We aimed to investigate the effects of inhibiting both pathways simultaneously on breast cancer cell survival and the potential interactions between these two signaling pathways. ER-positive MCF-7 cells show decreased viability after treatment with cyclopamine, a Hh-Gli pathway inhibitor, as well as after tamoxifen (an ERα inhibitor) treatment. Simultaneous treatment with cyclopamine and tamoxifen on the other hand, causes short-term survival of cells, and increased migration. We found upregulated Hh-Gli signaling under these conditions and protein profiling revealed increased expression of proteins involved in cell proliferation and migration. Therefore, even though Hh-Gli signaling seems to be a good potential target for breast cancer therapy, caution must be advised, especially when combining therapies. In addition, we also show a potential direct interaction between the Shh protein and ERα in MCF-7 cells. Our data suggest that the Shh protein is able to activate ERα independently of the canonical Hh-Gli signaling pathway. Therefore, this may present an additional boost for ER-positive cells that express Shh, even in the absence of estrogen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Interactions
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Hedgehog Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Proteomics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Tamoxifen / adverse effects
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Veratrum Alkaloids / adverse effects
  • Veratrum Alkaloids / pharmacology*
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1

Substances

  • ESR1 protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • GLI1 protein, human
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Veratrum Alkaloids
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
  • Tamoxifen
  • cyclopamine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by funds from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Grant No. 098-0982464-2461, and the European Union′s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development under grant agreement No. 316289 - InnoMol, FP7-REGPOT-2012-2013-1. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.