Proteomic analysis of MCF-7 breast cancer cell line exposed to mitogenic concentration of 17β-estradiol

Estrogens are powerful mitogens that play a critical role in the onset of breast cancer and its progression. About two-thirds of all breast cancers are estrogen receptor (ER)+ at the time of diagnosis, and the ER expression is the determinant of a tumor phenotype associated with hormone responsiveness. The molecular basis of the relationship between ER expression, (anti)hormonal responsiveness, and breast cancer prognosis is still unknown. To identify the proteins affected by the presence of the hormone we used 2-D-PAGE-based bottom-up proteomics for the study of the proteome of MCF-7 cells of estrogen-responsive breast carcinoma exposed to a mitogenic concentration of 17 beta-estradiol (E-2) for 12, 18, 24, and 30h. Differential expression analysis showed significant changes for 12 proteins. These include ezrin-radixin-moesin-binding phosphoprotein of 50 kDa which was previously shown to be directly regulated by E2. Expression profiles of other proteins already implicated in the progression of breast cancer, such as stathmin, calreticulin, heat shock 71 kDa, alpha-enolase are also described. Moreover, it is observed that different unexpected proteins, translation factors, and energetic metabolism enzymes are also influenced by the presence of the hormone.