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. 2007 Jan 19;12(2):280–293. doi: 10.2478/s11658-007-0002-5

Phenol red in the culture medium strongly affects the susceptibility of human MCF-7 cells to roscovitine

Józefa Węsierska-Gądek 1,✉, Tanja Schreiner 1, Margarita Maurer 1, Astrid Waringer 1, Carmen Ranftler 1
PMCID: PMC6276014  PMID: 17235438

Abstract

Estrogens play an important role in the growth and terminal differentiation of the mammary gland. Prolonged exposure to estrogens seems to predispose women to breast cancer. It recently became evident that not only the intrinsic hormonal status but also external factors such as the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and chemicals with hormone activity in the environment may put women at greater risk of developing breast cancer. We focused on the interference of endocrine disruptors in breast cancer therapy. We observed that phenol red added to the culture medium strongly promoted the cell proliferation and cell cycle progression of human cells expressing the estrogen receptor, and affected their susceptibility to chemotherapy.

Key words: Endocrine disrupters, Apoptosis, Cell cycle arrest, Cyclin-dependent inhibitors

Full Text

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Abbreviations used

AIF

apoptosis inducing factor

CDK

cyclin-dependent kinase

EDC

endocrine disrupting compounds

ER

estrogen receptor

FCS

foetal calf serum

PBS

phosphate-buffered saline

ROSC

roscovitine

WCL

whole cell lysates

wt

wild-type

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