Modulation of the estradiol-17 beta mitogenic effect on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells by serum albumin in defined medium.

The influence of bovine serum albumin on estradiol-17 beta growth and responsiveness of human mammary cancer MCF-7 cells was studied and compared to that of dextran-coated charcoal-treated fetal calf serum and other bovine serum proteins. To reveal the protein factor role, a culture defined medium was used. It was composed of minimal essential medium without phenol red, added with human iron saturated tranferrin (10 mg/ml) and porcine insulin (5 mg/ml). An estradiol-17 beta mitogenic effect was noticed only in the present of bovine serum albumin or of dextran-coated charcoal-treated fetal calf serum. A protein concentration increase provokes a greater responsiveness of MCF-7 cells submitted to an estrogenic treatment. The obtained results suggest that serum albumin participates in the estradiol-17 beta mode of action on the target cells and modulates its effect. The culture conditions appear essential for the study of the effect of estrogens and antiestrogens on the growth of estrogen-dependent cells.