Impact of infertility regimens on breast cancer cells: follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone lack a direct effect on breast cell proliferation in vitro

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 97; no. 2; pp. 440 - 444
• Main Authors: Boukaidi, Samir Alexandre, M.D., M.S, Cooley, Anne, M.S, Hardy, Ashley, M.D, Matthews, Laura, B.S, Zelivianski, Stanislav, Ph.D, Jeruss, Jacqueline S., M.D., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Breast cancer; breast neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cell Culture Techniques; cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Chorionic Gonadotropin - pharmacology; Drug Therapy, Combination; epithelial cells; Epithelial Cells - drug effects; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Female; Fertility Agents, Female - adverse effects; Fertility Agents, Female - pharmacology; fertility preservation; fertility treatment; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - pharmacology; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - toxicity; follicle-stimulating hormone; FSH; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; human chorionic gonadotropin; Humans; in vitro studies; Internal Medicine; luteinization; luteinizing hormone; Luteinizing Hormone - pharmacology; Luteinizing Hormone - toxicity; Mammary gland diseases; mammary glands; Mammary Glands, Human - drug effects; Mammary Glands, Human - pathology; Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Ovulation Induction - adverse effects; patients; risk; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Time Factors; Tumors; fertility treatment; Breast cancer; FSH; fertility preservation; LH; Cell proliferation; Breast disease; Preservation; Gynecology; Malignant tumor; In vitro; Obstetrics; Sterility; Mammary gland diseases; Treatment; Fertility; Luteinizing hormone; Breast; Mammary gland; Therapeutic protocol; Tumor cell; Cancer; Follicle stimulating hormone
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.11.020

Objective To examine the impact of hormones used for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) on normal and malignant breast cell growth and proliferation. Design In vitro study of cultured normal and malignant breast cell lines. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) None. Intervention(s) Normal and malignant breast cell lines cultured in two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) systems and treated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), or FSH with LH or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Main Outcome Measure(s) Effects of treatment on cell proliferation in 2D culture using the MTS assay and on colony growth in 3D culture. Result(s) Compared with untreated cells, normal MCF-10A cells showed a decrease in proliferation and colony size when exposed to a combination of FSH and hCG. The HCC 1937 cells treated with FSH and LH also showed a decrease in colony growth but no change in proliferation. None of the treatments had an effect on the proliferation or colony size of the MCF-7 cells. Conclusion(s) Follicle-stimulating hormone, LH, and hCG do not appear to cause an increase in cell proliferation or colony growth in either normal or malignant mammary epithelial cell lines. The potential risk for mammary cell transformation associated with these agents may be related to indirect endocrine effects on breast cell physiology.