Estrogen receptor β and the progression of prostate cancer: role of 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol

Prostate cancer (PC) develops in response to an abnormal activation of androgen receptor induced by circulating androgens and, in its initial stages, is pharmacologically controlled by androgen blockade. However, androgen ablation therapy often allows androgen-independent PC development, generally characterized by increased invasiveness. We previously reported that 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol (3 beta-Adiol) inhibits the migration of PC cell lines via the estrogen receptor beta (ER beta) activation. Here, by combining in vitro assays and in vivo imaging approaches, we analyzed the effects of 3 beta-Adiol on PC proliferation, migration, invasiveness, and metastasis in cultured cells and in xenografts using luciferase-labeled PC3 (PC3-Luc) cells. We found that 3 beta-Adiol not only inhibits PC3-Luc cell migratory properties, but also induces a broader anti-tumor phenotype by decreasing the proliferation rate, increasing cell adhesion, and reducing invasive capabilities in vitro. All these 3 beta-Adiol activities are mediated by ER beta and cannot be reproduced by the physiological estrogen, 17 beta-estradiol, suggesting the existence of different pathways activated by the two ER beta ligands in PC3-Luc cells. In vivo, continuous administration of 3 beta-Adiol reduces growth of established tumors and counteracts metastasis formation when PC3-Luc cells are engrafted s.c. in nude mice or are orthotopically injected into the prostate. Since 3 beta-Adiol has no androgenic activity, and cannot be converted to androgenic compounds, the effects here described entail a novel potential application of this agent against human PC. Endocrine-Related Cancer (2010) 17 731-742