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Phenol red in the culture medium strongly affects the susceptibility of human MCF-7 cells to roscovitine

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters volume 12, pages 280–293 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Estrogens play an important role in the growth and terminal differentiation of the mammary gland. Prolonged exposure to estrogens seems to predispose women to breast cancer. It recently became evident that not only the intrinsic hormonal status but also external factors such as the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and chemicals with hormone activity in the environment may put women at greater risk of developing breast cancer. We focused on the interference of endocrine disruptors in breast cancer therapy. We observed that phenol red added to the culture medium strongly promoted the cell proliferation and cell cycle progression of human cells expressing the estrogen receptor, and affected their susceptibility to chemotherapy.

Abbreviations

AIF:

apoptosis inducing factor

CDK:

cyclin-dependent kinase

EDC:

endocrine disrupting compounds

ER:

estrogen receptor

FCS:

foetal calf serum

PBS:

phosphate-buffered saline

ROSC:

roscovitine

WCL:

whole cell lysates

wt:

wild-type

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cell Cycle Regulation Group, Division: Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Vienna Medical University, Borschkegasse 8 a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    Józefa Węsierska-Gądek, Tanja Schreiner, Margarita Maurer, Astrid Waringer & Carmen Ranftler

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  1. Józefa Węsierska-Gądek
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  2. Tanja Schreiner
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  3. Margarita Maurer
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  5. Carmen Ranftler
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Correspondence to Józefa Węsierska-Gądek.

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Węsierska-Gądek, J., Schreiner, T., Maurer, M. et al. Phenol red in the culture medium strongly affects the susceptibility of human MCF-7 cells to roscovitine. Cell Mol Biol Lett 12, 280–293 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-007-0002-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-007-0002-5

Key words

  • Endocrine disrupters
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell cycle arrest
  • Cyclin-dependent inhibitors

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters

ISSN: 1689-1392

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