Targeting estrogen receptor-α reduces adrenocortical cancer (ACC) cell growth in vitro and in vivo: Potential therapeutic role of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for ACC treatment

Rosa Sirianni, Fabiana Zolea, Adele Chimento, Carmen Ruggiero, Lidia Cerquetti, Francesco Fallo, Catia Pilon, Giorgio Arnaldi, Giulia Carpinelli, Antonio Stigliano, Vincenzo Pezzi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Context: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor with a very poor prognosis and no effective treatment. ACC is characterized by an increased production of IGF-II and by estrogen receptor (ER)-α up-regulation. Objective: The objective of this study was to define the role played by ERα in 17β-estradiol (E2)- and IGF-II-dependent ACC growth and evaluate whether selective estrogen receptor modulators are effective in controlling ACC growth in vivo. Experimental Design: The human adrenocortical cell line H295R was used as an in vitro model and to generate xenograft tumors in athymic nude mice. Results: In H295R cells IGF-II controlled expression of steroidogenic factor-1 that, in turn, increased aromatase transcription and, consequently, estrogen production, inducing cell proliferation. ERα silencing significantly blocked E2- and IGF-II-dependent cell proliferation. This effect was dependent on the regulation of cyclin D1 expression by ERα, activated in response to both E2 and IGF-II. In fact, IGF-II induced ERα activation by phosphorylating serine 118 and 167. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ERα mediated E2-induced nongenomic signaling that stimulated IGF-I receptor (IGF1R), ERK1/2, and AKT phosphorylation, resulting in a ligand-independent activation of the IGF1R-induced pathway. In addition, E2 potentiated this pathway by up-regulating IGF1R expression as a consequence of increased cAMP-responsive element binding protein activation and binding to IGF1R promoter. The estrogen antagonist, hydroxytamoxifen, the active metabolite of tamoxifen, reduced IGF1R protein levels and both E2- and IGF-II-induced cell proliferation. Moreover, H295R xenograft growth was strongly reduced by tamoxifen. Conclusion: These findings establish a critical role for ERα in E2- and IGF-II-dependent ACC proliferation and provide a rationale for targeting ERα to control the proliferation of ACC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E2238-E2250
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume97
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Biochemistry, medical

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