Responses to estradiol in a human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line (Ishikawa)

• Published in: Journal of steroid biochemistry Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 85
• Main Authors: Holinka, C F, Hata, H, Kuramoto, H, Gurpide, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-01-1986
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Animals; Cell Division - drug effects; Cell Line; Estradiol - pharmacology; Female; Humans; Mice; Mice, Nude; Progesterone - metabolism; Receptors, Estrogen - analysis; Uterine Neoplasms - metabolism; Uterine Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0022-4731
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-4731(86)90036-1

A human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line (Ishikawa) has been found to be estrogen responsive. The growth stimulatory effects of estradiol (10(-8) M) could be clearly demonstrated when cell cultures containing the hormone were compared with the maximal cell density achieved in control cultures. The approx. 3-fold increase in cell density observed 2-3 weeks after plating, with frequent medium changes, could by blocked by a 100-fold molar excess of the antiestrogen trans-4-monohydroxytamoxifen. When added to hormone-free cultures that had reached a plateau level of cell numbers on day 14 after plating, estradiol (10(-8) M) caused the resumption of proliferation: after 6 days in the presence of the hormone, the cultures contained nearly twice the cell numbers of controls. Effects of estradiol on Ishikawa cells were also evident from the several-fold increases in the levels of specific progesterone binders provoked by the hormone at 10(-9)-10(-6) M concentrations. Cells injected into nude mice formed tumors which contained estrogen and progesterone binders. The availability of a fast-growing (doubling time approx. 30 h) endometrial cancer cell line responsive to estradiol at near physiologic levels will facilitate biochemical studies of hormonal effects on the human endometrium.