Effect of tibolone (Org OD14) and its metabolites on aromatase and estrone sulfatase activity in human breast adipose stromal cells and in MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells.

Tibolone (Org OD14) is a synthetic steroid used for post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Since HRT might increase breast cancer risk, it is important to determine the possible effects of tibolone on breast tissues. Tibolone and its metabolites Org 4094, Org 30126 and Org OM38 have been reported to inhibit estrone sulfatase activity in MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cell lines, which suggest beneficial effects on hormone dependent breast cancer by reducing local production of free estrogens. Breast adipose stromal cells (ASCs) contain aromatase activity-an obligatory step in the biosynthesis of estrogens-and possibly contain sulfatase activity. We investigated the effects of tibolone, its metabolites and the pure progestin Org 2058 on PGE(2)-stimulated aromatase activity and on sulfatase activity in human ASC primary cultures and on sulfatase activity in MCF-7 and T47D cell lines. In MCF-7, tibolone and metabolites, but not Org 2058, were found to inhibit sulfatase activity. In T47D, tibolone inhibited sulfatase only at 10(-6)M, although weakly. ASC had high sulfatase activity, which was inhibited by 10(-6)M of tibolone, Org 4094 and Org 30126, but not by Org OM38 or Org 2058. Surprisingly, aromatase activity in ASC was increased by both tibolone and Org 2058 at 10(-6)M. As ligand binding assay results and immunohistochemistry indicated the absence of progesterone and estrogen receptors in ASC, these effects on aromatase and sulfatase activity in ASC likely take place by other routes. Because tibolone and its metabolites inhibit sulfatase activity, and because tibolone only increases aromatase activity at a high concentration, we conclude that effects of tibolone on the breast are probably safe.