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Summary Malignant human breast tumours contain high levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). However, the mechanisms controlling PGE2 production in breast cancer are unknown. This in vitro study investigates the capacity for PGE2 synthesis and metabolism in several human breast cancer cell lines and early passage human breast fibroblasts and seeks to identify potential regulatory factors which may control these pathways. Basal PGE2 production rose up to 30-fold

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The involvement of phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the action of oxytocin and vasopressin on the uterus was investigated in gestational myometrium and decidua cells by measuring the production of inositol phosphates. Both peptides stimulated a dose related increase in all three inositol phosphates in myometrium. This may be related to the control of sarcoplasmic Ca++ levels in the myometrium. Oxytocin and vasopressin also stimulated inositol 1-phosphate (IP) production in decidua cells. The hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol by decidua homogenates exhibited a precursor-product relationship for diacylglycerol and arachidonic acid accumulation. Hence both peptides may mobilise free arachidonic acid, for prostaglandin biosynthesis, from decidua cell phosphoinositides by the sequential action of phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase.

The synthetic retinoid N-(4-hydroxphenyl) retinamide (4HPR) has manifold actions, which may contribute to its chemopreventive effects on breast cancer cell growth and progression. A role for ceramide as a stress-response signal is investigated here during the cytotoxic action of 4HPR in MCF-7 cells. N-(4-hydroxphenyl) retinamide induced a dose-dependent decline in cell growth and survival associated with a maximal 10-fold increase in ceramide production at 10 mM. N-(4-hydroxphenyl) retinamide exhibited a greater potency than all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on growth inhibition and ceramide production. The synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors agonist troglitazone (TGZ), but not the native ligand 15-deoxy-delta 12,14-prostaglandin J 2 , abrogated both these actions of 4HPR but not that of ATRA. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine mimicked the abrogative effect of TGZ on 4HPR action, while the exogenous oxidant H 2 O 2 also stimulated ceramide production. The inhibitors of de novo ceramide synthesis, fumonisin B 1 and myriocin, blocked the ceramide response to 4HPR and partially reversed the apoptotic response, but did not prevent the overall decline in cell survival. The pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD fmk reduced the decrease in cell survival caused by 4HPR, but did not affect the ceramide response. These findings describe a novel redox-sensitive elevation of ceramide levels associated with the cytotoxic response of breast cancer cells to 4HPR. However, a major mediatory role for this sphingolipid in this context remains equivocal.

Within the scope of this study, we detected aphasia and separated cSDH as predictors of cSDH recurrence. Homogeneous isodense cSDH seems to be a good prognostic sign regarding the risk of recurrence development. Furthermore, our data clearly emphasize the importance of surgically applied drainage implants to prevent a recurrence of cSDH.

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