Involvement of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-mediated signaling in breast cancer cell functions by long-term tamoxifen treatment under hypoxic and estrogen-deprived conditions

Background Tamoxifen (TAM) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator and has anti-estrogenic activity. Breast cancer cells acquire drug resistance to TAM as a consequence of long-term treatment. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-mediated signaling contributes to the promotion of tumor progression. This study aimed to evaluate the role of LPA receptors in the modulation of biological functions by long-term TAM treatment in breast cancer MCF-7 cells under hypoxic and estrogen-deprived conditions. Methods Long-term TAM treated (MCF-TAM) cells were generated from MCF-7 cells. Cells were cultured in estrogen-free medium at 1% O2. LPA receptor expressions were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. Cell motile activity was investigated using Cell Culture Inserts. The CCK-8 kit was used to determine the cell proliferation rate. Results LPAR1 and LPAR3 expressions were elevated in MCF-TAM cells. MCF-TAM cell motility was enhanced by culturing at 1% O2, compared with MCF-7 cells. When cells were cultured in estrogen-deprived medium at 1% O2, the cell proliferation rate of MCF-TAM cells was significantly higher than that of MCF-7 cells. Conclusion These results suggest that LPA receptor-mediated signaling plays an important role in the acquisition of malignant properties in long-term TAM treated MCF-7 cells under hypoxic and estrogen-deprived conditions.