EC Gynaecology

Background: Understanding how obesity influences the activities of dysregulated hormones in overweight women is crucial for managing the increased risk of cancer associated with obesity. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the response of cancer cell lines to obesity- related hormones in vitro.

Materials and Methods: The study focused on two endometrial cell lines (Ishikawa and HEC-1A), one breast cell line (MCF-7), and one ovarian cell line (SKOV-3). The effects of four obesity-related peptides known to have tumorigenic properties, namely leptin, insulin, IGF-I, were examined. Additionally, the study explored the impact of adiponectin, an anti-tumorigenic hormone.

Results: The study revealed the presence of hormone receptors in all four cell lines. The tumorigenic hormones demonstrated cell line-specific increases in cell proliferation, although the response was minimal in the SKOV-3 ovarian cell line compared to the endometrial and breast cancer cell lines. Notably, adiponectin exhibited a dual effect on cancer cell growth. At low concentrations, it promoted growth, while at high concentrations, it had the opposite effect. The study also observed that alterations in apoptotic levels in cancer cells induced by hormones did not consistently correlate with their effects on cell number or VEGF secretion. Interestingly, in most cases, VEGF secretion was regulated in the opposite direction to proliferation by the peptides.

Conclusion: Overall, this study underscores the tissue-specific oncogenic effects of the hormones examined, which could be influenced by genetic variations among the four cell lines. It is important to note that the study was conducted in vitro, but the findings offer valuable insights into the potential involvement of obesity-related hormones in cancer advancement. The research implies that additional investigations will contribute to a better comprehension of the intricate interactions uncovered. Elucidating the network connecting hormones, cancer cells, and the tumour microenvironment in vivo will have significant clinical implications.

Keywords: Adiponectin; Endometrial Cancer; Insulin; Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1; Leptin; VEGF

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