Nitric oxide is cytoprotective to breast cancer spheroids vulnerable to estrogen-induced apoptosis.

ABSTRACT: Estrogen-induced apoptosis has become a successful treatment for postmenopausal metastatic, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Nitric oxide involvement in the response to this endocrine treatment and its influence upon estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer progression is still unclear. Nitric oxide impact on the MCF7 breast cancer line, before and after estrogen-induced apoptosis, was investigated in 3D culture systems using unique live-cell imaging methodologies. Spheroids were established from MCF7 cells vulnerable to estrogen-induced apoptosis, before and after exposure to estrogen. Spheroids derived from estrogen-treated cells exhibited extensive apoptosis levels with downregulation of estrogen receptor expression, low proliferation rate and reduced metabolic activity, unlike

SUBMITTER: Shafran Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5752490 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature