Short-term culture of human breast cancer: in vitro effects of hormones related to patient response

Abstract

Summary.-Breast-cancer tissue from 60 patients was tested for oestrogen and testosterone sensitivity in vitro by measuring [3H]-dT incorporation in tissue fragments at various times during 48h culture. Hormone sensitivity in test culture was determined as an increase or decrease in dT uptake. In vitro cultures of breastcancer tissue demonstrate that some tumours are hormone-sensitive and others hormone-insensitive, but it cannot be predicted whether cell proliferation is stimulated or inhibited by hormone treatment.The data were related to the clinical stage of the patients, menopausal status, and the degree of anaplasia of the tumours tested. No correlation was observed between these parameters and in vitro hormonal sensitivity. However, when related to the response of patients to various kinds of hormonal treatment, a significant positive correlation was obtained.ONE THIRD OF PATIENTS with advanced breast cancer respond to endocrine therapy.The oestrogen-receptor (RE) assay on breast-cancer tissue has been used to select patients for hormonal treatment, but as present only half the patients with RE+ tumours actually benefit from endocrine therapy. It has been shown, however, that tumours containing both RE and progesterone receptors, and tumours containing high RE levels, are more likely to respond (70-80%) than tumours with low RE levels or none (5-10%; McGuire, 1980). Instead of measuring the initial binding step in the hormone action, another approach would be to determine hormonal influence on the tumours in vitro. It has been shown that the in vitro effect of hormones on breast-cancer tissue is not simply a reflection of the presence or absence of steroid receptors (Israel & Saez, 1978;Poulsen, 1978;Sanfillipo et al., 1979) and our proposed line of investigation might yield new information. Surgically excised breast-cancer tissue § To whom request for reprints should be addressed:

GYNECOMASTIA Immunohistochemical Demonstration of Estrogen Receptors

“…The method, which has previously been described in detail (15,16), is a 24-hour analysis comparing the incorporation of 'H-thymidine in hormone treated and control cultures of the gynecomastic tissue.…”