Androgen receptors, androgen‐dependent proliferation, and 5α‐reductase activity of small‐cell lung cancer cell lines

Abstract

We investigated the influence of testosterone on binding to established small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines and were able to show specific high‐affinity and low‐capacity binding sites in some cell lines with a typical receptor size, using sucrose density gradient centrifugation. In addition, we demonstrated marked growth stimulation with testosterone and dehydrotestosterone using different androgen‐receptor‐positive small‐cell lung cancer cell lines. This growth stimulation could be counteracted by the addition of anti‐androgens like cyproterone acetate or flutamide. The presence of 5α‐reductase activity, 17ß‐hydroxysteroid‐dehydrogenase and 3α‐hydroxy‐steroid‐dehydrogenase activities could be demonstrated, suggesting testosterone metabolism of small‐cell lung cancer cell lines.