CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

We have previously described enhanced human breast cancer cell proliferation and mouse mammary tumor growth induced by alpha2-adrenergic agonists, associated with alpha2-adrenoceptor (Alpha2-AR) expression in epithelial cells. The aim of the present work was to assess if stromal fibroblasts can contribute to this effect. Alpha2-AR expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry and immuno-histochemistry,cell proliferation by [3H]-Thymidine incorporation and tumor growth by measuring with caliper. All tested mouse and human fibroblasts expressed at least two Alpha2-AR subtypes and Alpha2-adrenergic agonists enhanced fibroblast proliferation. In vivo, the Alpha2-adrenergic agonist clonidine significantly enhanced tumor growth. The alpha2-adrenergic antagonist rauwolscine reversed this effect, but when administered alone, significantly inhibited tumor growth. Clonidine significantly stimulated cell proliferation in the epithelial enriched fraction, the cancer associated fibroblast-enriched fraction and the co-culture of both fractions in primary cultures from both tumors (IBH-4 and IBH-6). Rauwolscine reversed clonidine stimulation in every fraction. However, when incubated alone, the inhibitory effect was observed in fractions from IBH-4 tumors but not from IBH-6 tumors. These experiments show that fibroblasts from tumor stroma are also in-fluenced by alpha2-adrenergic compounds through the alpha2-ARs expressed in these cells. Moreover, the alpha2- adrenergic antagonist rauwolscine could eventually block in both epithelial and stromal cells, the mitogenic effect of catecholamines released during stress, providing a potential additional treatment for breast cancer patients. Chemists synthesizing adrenergic compounds should consider their action in breast cancer patients.