Oestrogen Inactivation in the Colon and Colonic Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): English M A, Hughes S V, Kane K F, Langman M J S, Stewart P M, Hewison M
Primary Institution: Division of Medical Sciences, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK
Hypothesis
The study aims to clarify the role of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isozymes in the metabolism of oestrogen in the colon and its relation to colonic cancer.
Conclusion
The study found that abnormal expression of 17β-HSD2 and 4 in colonic cancer cells may play a role in modulating colonic cell proliferation.
Supporting Evidence
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of 17β-HSD2 and 4 in normal colonic epithelial cells.
- Both isozymes were abnormally expressed in colonic tumors.
- Western blot analyses confirmed the abnormal expression of 17β-HSD2 and 4 proteins in colonic cancer cell lines.
- The conversion of oestradiol to oestrone was highest in Caco-2 cells, which correlated with their proliferation rate.
- 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was found to stimulate oestrogen inactivation.
Takeaway
The colon can break down oestrogen, and this process is important for understanding how it might affect colon cancer.
Methodology
The study used immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses to examine the expression of 17β-HSD isozymes in normal and cancerous colonic tissues.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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