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Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression and Antiproliferative Effect of Dexamethasone on Human Melanoma Cells

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone are widely used in cancer therapy and have cell type-specific pro- or antiapoptotic effects. We examined whether melanoma cells are sensitive to dexamethasone treatment. We have demonstrated for the first time that in human melanoma cell lines as well as in benign and malignant melanocytic tumors glucocorticoid receptor (GCR) is present both at mRNA and protein level. Dexamethasone applied at high doses inhibited the in vitro growth of WM983A human melanoma cells. The inhibitory effect was due to apoptosis induction. In the case of this relatively sensitive cell line dexamethasone enhanced the effect of the chemotherapeutic drug DTIC.

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Acknowledgments

The preparation of this manuscript was partially supported by the Sectoral Operational Program Human Resources Development, financed from the European Social Fund and by the Romanian Government under the contract number POSDRU/89/1.5/S/60782.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Surgical and Molecular Tumor Pathology, National Institute of Oncology, 7–9. Ráth György u., Budapest, 1122, Hungary

    Judit Dobos & Andrea Ladányi

  2. 2nd Institute of Pathology, Semmelweis University, 93. Üllői út, Budapest, 1091, Hungary

    István Kenessey & József Tímár

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  1. Judit Dobos
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  2. István Kenessey
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  3. József Tímár
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  4. Andrea Ladányi
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Correspondence to Judit Dobos.

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Dobos, J., Kenessey, I., Tímár, J. et al. Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression and Antiproliferative Effect of Dexamethasone on Human Melanoma Cells. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 17, 729–734 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-011-9377-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-011-9377-8

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