The Effects of Estrogen and Phytoestrogen on MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

School Name

Dorman High School

Grade Level

9th Grade

Presentation Topic

Physiology and Health

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Neval Erturk, Converse College

Oral Presentation Award

1st Place

Written Paper Award

1st Place

Abstract

With controversy surrounding hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women, phytoestrogen has been used as an alternative to alleviate menopausal symptoms.  Due to its estrogenic properties, phytoestrogen’s usage has raised breast cancer concerns.  The purpose of this experiment was to observe how the growth of MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) breast cancer cells were affected by different concentrations of estrogen, phytoestrogen, and the combinations of both.  It was hypothesized that phytoestrogen would enhance estrogen’s stimulatory effect on cell growth of MCF-7 cells.  The MCF-7 cell samples, along with their designated concentrations of estrogen and phytoestrogen, were placed in the incubator for twenty-four hours, forty-eight hours, and seventy-two hours.  MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromidefor) salt and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were added at different time intervals.  The colorimetric readings were then taken using the Epoch BioTek Microplate reader.  The results showed that, at lower concentrations, phytoestrogen increased cell proliferation.  The effect of phytoestrogen on cell viability seemed to be opposite of the effect of estrogen alone.  The effect at seventy-two hours followed the normal trend of estrogen only at the E1 and phytoestrogen combination.  The rest of the combination doses for other estrogen concentrations were opposite of estrogen alone.  The overall effect of phytoestrogen and estrogen combinations are still unknown.  The unknown effect on circulating estrogen level on gene expression as well as the agonistic and antagonistic nature of phytoestrogen on the different estrogen receptors might be the explanation for not supporting the hypothesis that phytoestrogen enhances cell viability of MCF-7 cells.

Location

Wall 318

Start Date

3-25-2017 10:15 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

Yes

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 10:15 AM

The Effects of Estrogen and Phytoestrogen on MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

Wall 318

With controversy surrounding hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women, phytoestrogen has been used as an alternative to alleviate menopausal symptoms.  Due to its estrogenic properties, phytoestrogen’s usage has raised breast cancer concerns.  The purpose of this experiment was to observe how the growth of MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) breast cancer cells were affected by different concentrations of estrogen, phytoestrogen, and the combinations of both.  It was hypothesized that phytoestrogen would enhance estrogen’s stimulatory effect on cell growth of MCF-7 cells.  The MCF-7 cell samples, along with their designated concentrations of estrogen and phytoestrogen, were placed in the incubator for twenty-four hours, forty-eight hours, and seventy-two hours.  MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromidefor) salt and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were added at different time intervals.  The colorimetric readings were then taken using the Epoch BioTek Microplate reader.  The results showed that, at lower concentrations, phytoestrogen increased cell proliferation.  The effect of phytoestrogen on cell viability seemed to be opposite of the effect of estrogen alone.  The effect at seventy-two hours followed the normal trend of estrogen only at the E1 and phytoestrogen combination.  The rest of the combination doses for other estrogen concentrations were opposite of estrogen alone.  The overall effect of phytoestrogen and estrogen combinations are still unknown.  The unknown effect on circulating estrogen level on gene expression as well as the agonistic and antagonistic nature of phytoestrogen on the different estrogen receptors might be the explanation for not supporting the hypothesis that phytoestrogen enhances cell viability of MCF-7 cells.