EPO-independent functional EPO receptor in breast cancer enhances estrogen receptor activity and promotes cell proliferation

Journal Article · Fri Feb 28 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BBRC.2014.01.165· OSTI ID:22416294

Reinbothe, Susann; Larsson, Anna-Maria; Vaapil, Marica; Wigerup, Caroline ^[1]; Sun, Jianmin ^[1]; Jögi, Annika ^[1]; Neumann, Drorit ^[2]; Rönnstrand, Lars ^[1]; Påhlman, Sven ^[1]

---

1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Cancer Research, Medicon Village, Lund University, SE-223 81 Lund (Sweden)
2. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv (Israel)

Highlights: • New anti-human EPOR antibody confirms full-length EPOR expression in breast cancer cells. • Proliferation of breast cancer cells is not affected by rhEPO treatment in vitro. • EPOR knockdown impairs proliferation of ERa positive breast cancer cells. • EPOR knockdown reduces AKT phosphorylation and ERa activity. - Abstract: The main function of Erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor (EPOR) is the stimulation of erythropoiesis. Recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) is therefore used to treat anemia in cancer patients. However, clinical trials have indicated that rhEPO treatment might promote tumor progression and has a negative effect on patient survival. In addition, EPOR expression has been detected in several cancer forms. Using a newly produced anti-EPOR antibody that reliably detects the full-length isoform of the EPOR we show that breast cancer tissue and cells express the EPOR protein. rhEPO stimulation of cultured EPOR expressing breast cancer cells did not result in increased proliferation, overt activation of EPOR (receptor phosphorylation) or a consistent activation of canonical EPOR signaling pathway mediators such as JAK2, STAT3, STAT5, or AKT. However, EPOR knockdown experiments suggested functional EPO receptors in estrogen receptor positive (ERα{sup +}) breast cancer cells, as reduced EPOR expression resulted in decreased proliferation. This effect on proliferation was not seen in ERα negative cells. EPOR knockdown decreased ERα activity further supports a mechanism by which EPOR affects proliferation via ERα-mediated mechanisms. We show that EPOR protein is expressed in breast cancer cells, where it appears to promote proliferation by an EPO-independent mechanism in ERα expressing breast cancer cells.

• OSTI ID: 22416294
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Journal Name: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 445; ISSN BBRCA9; ISSN 0006-291X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ANEMIAS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANTIBODIES
CELL PROLIFERATION
CLINICAL TRIALS
ERYTHROPOIESIS
ERYTHROPOIETIN
ESTROGENS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IN VITRO
MAMMARY GLANDS
NEOPLASMS
PATIENTS
PHOSPHORYLATION
RECEPTORS
STIMULATION