Human estrogen sulfotransferase (hEST1) activities and its mRNA in various breast cancer cell lines. Effect of the progestin, promegestone (R-5020)

Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification it was possible to detect the presence of type 1 human estrogen sulfotransferase (hEST1) mRNA in the hormone-dependent: MCF-7 and T-47D, and hormone-independent: MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, human breast cancer cells. The expression of this mRNA is significantly higher in the MDA-MB-468 cells and a correlation of this mRNA expression with the enzymatic activity was observed. The progestin promegestone (R-5020) at a low concentration (5 x 10(-7) M) can significantly increase the estrogen sulfotransferase activity and its mRNA in the hormone-dependent MCF-7 and T-47D cells. As estrogen sulfates are biologically inactive, the stimulatory effect on sulfotransferase by promegestone may open attractive possibilities in the control of estradiol in human breast cancer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.