2-methoxyestradiol alters cell motility, migration, and adhesion.

The effect of 2-methoxyestradiol, 2ME2, an endogenous metabolite of 17beta-estradiol (E2), on cell growth and cytoskeletal functions in a BCR-ABL-transformed cell line model was investigated. We determined the interaction of 2ME2 with STI571 (Gleevec, imatinib mesylate) in STI571 drug-sensitive and -resistant cell lines. In cells expressing BCR-ABL, STI571 cooperated with 2ME2 in reducing cell growth, and STI571-resistant cells were sensitive to 2ME2 treatment. 2ME2 also inhibited growth of several cancer cell lines by a mechanism independent of BCR-ABL. BCR-ABL transformation leads to altered motility, increased adhesion, and spontaneous migration in different in vitro model systems. 2ME2 was found to specifically inhibit the spontaneous motility of BCRABL-transformed Ba/F3 cells and to change the morphology and volume of treated cells. Cells attached to fibronectin-coated surfaces showed a reduced number of filipodia and lamellipodia. In addition, 2ME2 significantly reduced BCRABL-mediated adhesion to fibronectin. The spontaneous migration of BCR-ABL-transformed cells through a transwell membrane also was found to be significantly decreased by 2ME2. Cytoskeletal changes were accompanied by alteration of tubulin formation, distinct from paclitaxel treatment. These results demonstrate that 2ME2 treatment of transformed cells strongly reduces cytoskeletal functions and may also be useful for the treatment of cancers with high metastatic potential. Combination of 2ME2 with other anticancer drugs may be beneficial to treatment of drug-resistant cancers.