Sign in Subscribe
Cancer treatment

Glucocorticoid Receptor Over-Expression Promotes Human Small Cell Lung Cancer Apoptosis and Slows Tumor Growth

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa, have made a significant discovery in the field of cancer research. Studying small cell lung cancer (SCLC), an aggressive tumor type that often leads to ectopic ACTH syndrome, the team found that over-expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) promotes apoptosis in SCLC cells in both vitro and in vivo experiments. The results of the study, published in Endocrine-related Cancer, suggest that restoration of GR expression in SCLC cells can induce glucocorticoid sensitivity and increase apoptosis, thereby slowing tumor growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • SCLC cells are deficient in GR expression, which makes them resistant to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis.
  • Restoration of GR expression in SCLC cells in vitro induced glucocorticoid sensitivity and increased apoptosis.
  • In vivo experiments using a mouse SCLC xenograft model showed that infection of SCLC xenografts with GR-expressing adenovirus slowed tumor growth compared to control virus infection.
  • Time to fourfold initial tumor volume increased from a median of 9 days to 16 days (p=0.05; n=7 per group) in GR-expressing tumors.
  • Post-mortem analysis of GR-expressing tumors revealed a threefold increase in apoptotic (TUNEL positive) cells (p<0.01; n=7 per group).
  • The loss of GR expression confers a survival advantage to SCLCs, promoting tumor growth.
  • The study suggests that targeting GR expression in SCLC cells may be a potential therapeutic strategy for slowing tumor growth.

Statistics:

  • Median time to fourfold initial tumor volume in GR-expressing tumors: 16 days (p=0.05; n=7 per group)
  • Threefold increase in apoptotic (TUNEL positive) cells in GR-expressing tumors (p<0.01; n=7 per group)
  • Number of mice in the GR-expressing adenovirus group: n=7
  • Number of mice in the control virus group: n=7

Sources:

  • Sommer, P., et al. "Glucocorticoid receptor over-expression promotes human small cell lung cancer apoptosis in vivo and thereby slows tumor growth." Endocrine-related Cancer, vol. 17, no. 1, 2010, pp. 203-213.
  • Cancer Weekly. "Study: Glucocorticoid Receptor Over-Expression Promotes Human Small Cell Lung Cancer Apoptosis and Slows Tumor Growth." NewsRx.com, 2010.

Read more