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Biomedical subjects

K Huff

Publications and source records attributed to K Huff.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

The effects of estrogens and antiestrogens on hormone-responsive human breast cancer in long-term tissue culture.

We have established or characterized six lines of human breast cancer maintained in long-term tissue culture for at least 1 year and have examined these lines for estrogen responsiveness. One of these cell lines, MCF-7, shows marked stimulation of macromolecular synthesis and cell division with physiological concentrations of estradiol. Antiestrogens are strongly inhibitory, and at concentrations greater than 3 X 10(-7) M they kill cells. Antiestrogen effects are prevented by simultaneous treatment with estradiol or reversed by addition of estradiol to cells incubated in antiestrogen. Responsive cell lines contain high-affinity specific estradiol receptors. Antiestrogens compete with estradiol for these receptors but have a lower apparent affinity for the receptor than estrogens. Stimulation of cells by estrogens is biphasic, with inhibition and cell death at concentrations of 17beta-estradiol or diethylstilbestrol exceeding 10(-7) M. Killing by high concentrations of estrogen is probably a nonspecific effect in that we observe this response with 17alpha-estradiol at equivalent concentrations and in the otherwise unresponsive cells that contain no estrogen receptor sites.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1976

The effects of glucocorticoids and progesterone on hormone-responsive human breast cancer in long-term tissue culture.

Glucocorticoids, at physiological concentration, inhibit cell division and thymidine incorporation in three lines of human breast cancer maintained in long-term tissue culture. At steroid concentrations sufficient to inhibit thymidine incorporation 50%, little or no effect is seen on protein synthesis 48 hr after hormone addition. All three of these lines are shown to have glucocorticoid receptors demonstrable by competitive protein binding assays. Receptors are extensively characterized in one line by sucrose density gradient analysis and binding specificity studies. Good correlation between receptor-binding specificity and biological activity is found except for progesterone, which binds to glucocorticoid receptor but is noninhibitory. Cross-competition and quantification studies demonstrate a separate receptor for progesterone. This receptor has limited binding specificities restricted largely to progestational agents, whereas the glucocorticoid receptor bound both glucocorticoids and progesterone. Two other human breast cancer lines neither contain glucocorticoid receptor nor are inhibited by glucocorticoids. It is concluded that in some cases glucocorticoids can directly limit growth in human breast cancer in vitro without requiring alterations in other trophic hormones.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1976

The effects of androgens and antiandrogens on hormone-responsive human breast cancer in long-term tissue culture.

We have examined five human breast cancer cell lines in continuous tissue culture for androgen responsiveness. One of these cell lines shows a 2- to 4-fold stimulation of thymidine incorporation into DNA, apparent as early as 10 hr following androgen addition to cells incubated in serum-free medium. This stimulation is accompanied by an acceleration in cell replication. Antiandrogens [cyproterone acetate (6-chloro-17alpha-acetate-1,2alpha-methylene-4,6-pregnadiene-3,20-dione) and R2956 (17beta-hydroxy-2,2,17alpha-trimethoxyestra-4,9,11-triene-1-one)] inhibit both protein and DNA synthesis below control levels and block androgen-mediated stimulation. Prolonged incubation (greater than 72 hr) in antiandrogen is lethal. The MCF- cell line contains high-affinity receptors for androgenic steroids demonstrable by sucrose density gradients and competitive protein binding analysis. By cross-competition studies, androgen receptors are distinguishable from estrogen receptors also found in this cell line. Concentrations of steroid that saturate androgen receptor sites in vitro are about 1000 times lower than concentrations that maximally stimulate the cells. Changes in quantity and affinity of androgen binding to intact cells at 37 degrees as compared with usual binding techniques using cytosol preparation at 0 degrees do not explain this difference between dissociation of binding and effect. However, this difference can be explained by conversion of [3H]-5alpha-dihydrotestosterone to 5alpha-androstanediol and more polar metabolites at 37 degrees. An examination of incubation media, cytoplasmic extracts and crude nuclear pellets reveals probable conversion of [3H]testosterone to [3H]-5alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Our data provide compelling evidence that some human breast cancer, at least in vitro, may be androgen dependent.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed1976

Interactions of antiestrogens with human breast cancer in long-term tissue culture.

A variety of antiestrogens can be shown to antagonize estrogen action in animal model systems. Several of these compounds are useful in the management of metastatic human breast cancer. To further elucidate their mechanism of action, we studied several of these compounds using human breast cancer cell lines maintained in long-term tissue culture as a model system. Antiestrogens including tamoxifen (NSC-180973; ICI-46474), nafoxidine. CI-628, and clomiphene citrate inhibit macromolecular synthesis below control levels in two human breast cell lines. This effect is limited to cell lines which contain estrogen receptors. Simultaneous addition of as little as 1000-fold less estradiol prevents antiestrogen effects. Sequential addition of estrogen for up to 48 hours to cells incubated in antiestrogen reverses inhibition. If cells are continued in antiestrogen alone for more than about 3 days, inhibitory effects become irreversible. The cells detach from the surface of the culture vessel and are no longer viable. Tamoxifen competes with 3H-estradiol for specific receptor sites but with about a 100-fold lower apparent affinity. Direct binding of 3H-tamoxifen and 3H-estradiol to duplicate cytoplasmic extracts reveals equivalent numbers of binding sites but a 20-fold lower affinity for the antiestrogen. There is reasonable agreement between concentrations of tamoxifen which bind to receptor and concentrations which inhibit cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Protamine-precipitated estrogen receptor: a solid-phase ligand exchange assay.

Cytoplasmic estrogen receptor can exist either free (R) or bound to estradiol-17beta (RE). Both forms can be precipitated from cytosols by protamine sulfate. After protamine precipitation R binds 3-H-estradiol-17beta quantitatively at either 0 degrees or 30 degrees, while precipitated RE binds 3-H-estradiol-17beta only at 30 degrees by exchanging with previously bound hormone. Using these observations, we have developed a method for separate determination of both cytoplasmic R and RE. This method should also be applicable for assay of other steroid receptors, especially in cases where interfering components are present in the whole cytosol.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Mammary carcinoma: a specific biochemical defect in autonomous tumors.

Rat mammary carcinoma (R3230AC) which does not regress after ovariectomy has a markedly reduced amount of cytoplasmic estradiol binding protein. Cytoplasm from the tumor fails to interact with estradiol sufficiently to permit estradiol binding to tumor chromatin. This defect can be corrected in vitro by substituting cytoplasm, containing the binding protein, from rat uterus, thus permitting estradiol binding to tumor chromatin. The results indicate that the hormonal autonomy of this carcinoma is due to a lack of estradiol binding protein and not to the inability of estradiol to interact with the cell genome.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Expert systems: a new technology for increasing decision makers' effectiveness and efficiency.

The two systems described above illustrate ways in which expert systems can be used in managing health services. These examples demonstrate how unskilled persons, clerks, or health consumers can obtain advice or decisions equivalent to the results of an interview with an experienced specialist. The savings in specialists' time is an obvious benefit. Increased accessibility, owing to the ability to use the system concurrently in many locations, will enhance the quality of the service. The value of these improvements in service delivery exceeds the relatively small cost of developing and implementing the system. The other advantages described are a bonus.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗