Comparison of the Growth Inhibition by Alpha-Difluoromethylornithin and Hydroxytamoxifen in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

In estrogen-dependent MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, $E_2$ at 10 nM stimulated cell proliferation to over 200% compared to the untreated control. EGF and TGF${\alpha}$, which are known as the autocrine/paracrine growth factors induced by $E_2$, also directly stimulated the cell growth in almost as the same extent as $E_2$. DFMO which is the specific inhibitor of ODC could inhibit cell growth even at as low as 0.5 mM. In the treatment with 1 mM DFMO for 4 days, the cell growth was inhibited to 38% of the control. HO-TAM at 1 ${\mu}$M could inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells to 19% of the control. Those inhibitory effects were also found in the cells stimulated with $E_2$, EGF, and TGF${\alpha}$. The inhibitory effects were found even in 2 days of treatment. However, $E_2$, EGF, and TGF${\alpha}$ did not give any effect in the protein synthesis. Neither DFMO or HO-TAM gave any effect on the total protein synthesis. But the pattern of protein secretion was noticeably influenced by the growth stimulants or inhibitors. Proteins of 160, 52, 42, 36, and 32 kDa belonged to the major secretory proteins. Especially, 42 and 36 kDa proteins were most significantly influenced by the treatment of $E_2$, EGF, or TGF$\alpha$. DFMO and HO-TAM inhibited the secretion of these major proteins.