%0 Journal Article
%T 5-androstene 3¦Â,17¦Á diol induces autophagic cell death of human breast cancer cells and enhances radiation cytotoxicity
%A Martin R. Graf
%A Wentao Jia
%A Tiffany Powell
%A Roger M. Loria
%J Journal of Cancer Therapeutics & Research
%D 2012
%I 
%X Herein, we demonstrate that the steroid, 5-androstene 3¦Â,17¦Á diol (17¦Á-AED) induced cell death in human breast cancer cells MCF-7, MDA-MB231, T47D and TTU-1 at clinically relevant levels. 17¦Á-AED treatment resulted in autophagic cell death without evidence of apoptosis in breast cancer cells revealed by increased cleavage of microtubule-associated proteinlight chain 3 and the presence of acidic vesicular organelles in the absence of caspase 3, 8 or 9 activation and PARP processing. Increased phosphorylation of eukaryotic translational initiation factor 2¦Á (eIF2¦Á) was detected in treated MCF-7 cells and disruption of eIF2¦Á signaling reduced autophagic cell death in 17¦Á-AED treated MCF-7 cells. In breast cancer cell survival studies, 17¦Á-AED synergistically potentiated the cytotoxicity of radiation treatment. Collectively, 17¦Á-AED induces autophagic cell death in human breast tumors which is mediated, at least in part, by eIF2¦Á signaling and may have potential therapeutic value for the treatment of breast tumors.
%K autophagy
%K androstene steroids
%K breast cancer
%K radio-sensitizer
%U http://www.hoajonline.com/journals/jctr/content/pdf/25.pdf