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Progesterone, glucocorticoid, but not estrogen receptor mRNA is altered in breast cancer stroma

Robert A Smith1, Rod A Lea, Stephen R Weinstein

  • 1Genomics Research Centre and Wesley Research Institute, School of Health Science, Griffith University Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.

Cancer Letters
|May 22, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Cancer stroma exhibits altered hormone receptor signaling. Progesterone and glucocorticoid receptor mRNA levels significantly differ in tumor stroma, suggesting potential cancer-stroma crosstalk via hormone signaling pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Previous research indicated elevated anti-mitogenic nuclear receptor mRNA in late-stage tumors.
  • Hormone signaling plays a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes, including cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential for cancer-stroma crosstalk mediated by hormone signaling.
  • To examine the expression levels of key nuclear hormone receptors in tumor stromal tissue.

Main Methods:

  • Semi-quantitative PCR was employed to analyze RNA levels of estrogen receptors alpha and beta, androgen receptor, progesterone receptor, and glucocorticoid receptor in stromal tissue.
  • Expression data was compared between cancer stroma and control tissues, considering cancer grade and estrogen receptor status.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in mRNA expression were observed for progesterone receptor (p=5.908 x 10(-7)) and glucocorticoid receptor (p=2.761 x 10(-5)) between cancer stroma and control tissues.
  • Glucocorticoid receptor mRNA levels were significantly increased in the stroma of estrogen receptor-negative tumors (p=5.85 x 10(-5)).
  • Estrogen receptors alpha and beta, and androgen receptor mRNA levels showed no significant changes in the stroma.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that progesterone and glucocorticoid receptors are involved in cancer-stroma crosstalk.
  • Altered expression of these receptors in the tumor microenvironment may contribute to tumor progression.
  • Estrogen and androgen signaling pathways appear less involved in this specific crosstalk mechanism in the studied tumor stroma.

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