Effects of Glucocorticoid Receptor Activation on the Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Regulatory Genes in Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro

Abstract

Combinations of anticancer chemotherapeutics with glucocorticoids (GCs) are usually used to broaden the therapeutic range of main cytostatic agents and to diminish the side effects of chemotherapy. However, long-term GC administration leads to tumor resistance and the promotion of metastasis. GC effects are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor, which regulates gene expression via DNA-dependent transactivation associated with GC side effects and therapeutically important transrepression. We aimed to determine the molecular markers associated with the GC-stimulated motility and migration of breast cancer cells. We showed that GCs stimulate the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells after 120 h of treatment and determined markers of GC-associated adhesion loss.

Keywords

• glucocorticoids
• breast cancer
• cell adhesion
• metastasis