Modulation of aromatase activity by growth factors in an androgen sensitive human prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP

The effects of steroids and peptide growth factors on aromatase activity in an androgen sensitive human prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP) were investigated. Factors were selected based on their observed modulation of the enzyme in other tissues. Incubation with epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-I decreased aromatase activity in LNCaP cells by 25–40%. Insulin like growth factor-1, dexamethasone, dibutyryl cAMP and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, all of which are modulators of aromatase in other tissues, had no significant effect on aromatase activity in LNCaP cells. In addition, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2 methylpiperazine (H-7) had no effect on the enzyme activity. Factors affecting prostatic aromatase may be distinct from those for other known species.