Identification of membrane progestin receptors in human breast cancer cell lines and biopsies and their potential involvement in breast cancer

Novel membrane progestin receptors (mPRs) coupled to G proteins recently identified in several species, including humans, are potential intermediaries in rapid, nongenomic progestin actions observed in a wide variety of tissues. Here we demonstrate mPR mRNA and protein expression and specific membrane-associated progestin binding in MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 human breast cancer cells. Interestingly, human mPRα mRNA expression was higher in breast tumor biopsies than in normal tissue from the same breast. Recent studies indicate intracellular signaling pathways initiated by the mPRs are broadly similar to those induced during breast cancer growth and development. Taken together these results suggest a potential involvement of mPRs during the development or progression of breast cancer.