Impact of infertility regimens on breast cancer cells: follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone lack a direct effect on breast cell proliferation in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of hormones used for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) on normal and malignant breast cell growth and proliferation.
DESIGN: In vitro study of cultured normal and malignant breast cell lines.
SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT(S): None. INTERVENTION(S): Normal and malignant breast cell lines cultured in two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) systems and treated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), or FSH with LH or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Effects of treatment on cell proliferation in 2D culture using the MTS assay and on colony growth in 3D culture. RESULT(S): Compared with untreated cells, normal MCF-10A cells showed a decrease in proliferation and colony size when exposed to a combination of FSH and hCG. The HCC 1937 cells treated with FSH and LH also showed a decrease in colony growth but no change in proliferation. None of the treatments had an effect on the proliferation or colony size of the MCF-7 cells. CONCLUSION(S): Follicle-stimulating hormone, LH, and hCG do not appear to cause an increase in cell proliferation or colony growth in either normal or malignant mammary epithelial cell lines. The potential risk for mammary cell transformation associated with these agents may be related to indirect endocrine effects on breast cell physiology.