Atypical androgen receptor in the human melanoma cell line IIB-MEL-J

To evaluate the presence of androgen receptors in the human melanoma cell line IIB-MEL-J, a Scatchard plot analysis was performed. Cells in culture revealed a single binding component with an apparent dissociation constant (KD) at 37 degrees C of 11 nM and a binding capacity of 326 fmol/mg protein when measured with [3H]-R1881. Competition analysis revealed an atypical relaxation of specificity, since not only androgen (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone [DHT], R1881) and antiandrogen (hydroxy-flutamide [OH-FLU]) competed for [3H]-R1881 binding, but also estradiol, progesterone, and cortisol at 500-fold excess concentration. Binding of [3H]-estradiol and [3H]-R5020 in the absence of unlabeled DHT were completely suppressed in its presence. Immunohistochemistry of androgen receptor with a monoclonal antibody showed that nuclei were vigorously stained. Different doses of flutamide (FLU) and OH-FLU tested on cultured IIB-MEL-J cells in the presence of serum inhibited significantly cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. When cells were incubated with 10 nM DHT and 1% charcoal-adsorbed serum, a significant stimulation of growth that was observed was inhibited by 4 microM OH-FLU. DHT stimulation was completely reversed by the antiestrogen tamoxifen. In addition, male nude mice transplanted with IIB-MEL-J tumor were treated with FLU when tumors were palpable. FLU was effective in diminishing tumor growth and increasing survival rate of the animals. As a conclusion, the presence of functional androgen receptors in these cells has been demonstrated by growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo with antiandrogens, and their atypical nature is suggested by binding cross-reactivity and competition studies.