EM-800, a novel antiestrogen, acts as a pure antagonist of the transcriptional functions of estrogen receptors alpha and beta

Estrogens act as potent mitogens in a large number of breast cancers, and the use of Estrogen Receptor (ER) antagonists is, therefore, considered the endocrine therapy of choice in the management of this disease. We describe the molecular properties of EM-652, the active metabolite of EM-800, a novel nonsteroidal antiestrogen compound, on the transcriptional functions of ER alpha and ER beta. Using RT-PCR, we show that ER alpha and ER beta are expressed in mouse mammary glands, suggesting that both receptors should be considered putative targets for antiestrogen action in the breast. In cotransfection assays using a synthetic estrogen-responsive promoter, EM-652 shows no agonistic activity on ER alpha and ER beta transcriptional function and blocks the estradiol (E2)-mediated activation of both ER alpha and ER beta. EM-652 is also very effective in abrogating E2-stimulated ER alpha and ER beta trans-activation of the pS2 promoter in HeLa cells. EM-652 does not alter binding of ER alpha and ER beta to DNA. The Ras-mediated induction of ER alpha and ER beta transcriptional activity in the presence of E2 is also completely abolished by EM-652. In addition, EM-652 blocks the E2-dependent activation of ER alpha and ER beta by the steroid hormone receptor coactivator-1 as well as the in vitro interaction between SRC-1 and the ligand-binding domains of both ERs. These results demonstrate that the novel antiestrogen EM-800 fully impedes AF-1 and AF-2 activities of ER alpha and ER beta and can, therefore, be considered a potent and pure antagonist of both ER subtypes.