In Vitro effects of β-interferon on steroid receptors and prostaglandin output in human endometrial adenocarcinoma☆

Abstract The effect of natural β-interferon (β-IFN) on steroid receptor levels and output of prostaglandins (PGs) was investigated in human endometrial cancer. β-IFN determines in endometrial adenocarcinoma expiants an increase of cytosolic estradiol (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors at concentrations ranging from 10 to 1000 IU/ml of culture medium. Only cases in which there was an enhancement of at least 50% with respect to control values were considered. Low concentrations of β-IFN (10IU/ml of culture medium) produce an enhancement of ER in 60% and of PR in 42% of cases, while higher concentrations of β-IFN (1000 IU/ml of culture medium) produce an enhancement of ER in 32%, and of PR in 82% of cases. Since PGs are involved in proliferation control in a large variety of tumors, we evaluated the ratio between PGF2-α and PGE2 levels in culture medium. This ratio increased, in our experimental model, after treatment with 10 and 1000 IU/ml of β-IFN in 38% and 58% of cases respectively. Our data suggest that β-IFN could affect cellular hormone sensitivity through a modification of ER and PR and it can also determine a variation of PG output in human endometrial cancer.