The antiproliferative effect of vitamin D analogs on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

• Published in: Cancer letters 1995-05, Vol.92 (1), p.77-82
• Main Authors: Brenner, Richard V., Shabahang, Mohsen, Schumaker, Lisa M., Nauta, Russell J., Uskokovic, Milan R., Evans, Stephen R.T., Buras, Robert R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3; Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Antineoplastic agents; Binding, Competitive; Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Calcitriol - analogs & derivatives; Calcitriol - metabolism; Calcitriol - pharmacology; Cell Division - drug effects; General aspects; Growth inhibition; Humans; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Receptors, Calcitriol - metabolism; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vitamin D analogs
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3835(95)03765-O

We analyzed the antiproliferative effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 and four vitamin D analogs on MCF-7, a human breast cancer cell line known to express the vitamin D receptor. Growth curve studies and [ 3H]thymidine incorporation assays were used to assess the antiproliferative effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (vitamin D), Ro 23-7553, Ro 24-5531, Ro 25-5317, and Ro 24-5583. Growth of MCF-7 cells was significantly inhibited by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 and all four analogs at 10 −8 M ( P < 0.05). MCF-7 cells treated with analog had significantly less [ 3H]thymidine incorporation than cells treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 ( P < 0.05). The affinity of the analogs for the vitamin D receptor was similar to that of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3. These results demonstrate that analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 are potent antiproliferative agents on human breast cancer cells and that this activity is likely mediated through the vitamin D receptor.