Figure 1

Activation of ERα increased the sensibility of T47D cells to chemotherapeutic agents. (A, B) The viability of T47D cells after being exposed to four chemotherapeutic agents was determined by MTT assays. (A) Cells were pretreated with or without E2 for 16 hours before being exposed to chemotherapeutic agents. (B) Cells were pretreated with or without E2 for 12 days. Fulvestrant was added to the medium 12 hours before E2 treatment. The chemotherapeutic agents used in the MTT assays were paclitaxel, epirubicin, fluorouracil, and vinorelbine. Three concentrations were tested for each chemotherapeutic agent. Data are means ± standard deviation (SD) (n = 3). (C, D) Cell death induced by chemotherapeutic agents was determined by PI dye exclusion assays. (C) Cells were pretreated with or without E2 for 16 hours before exposed to chemotherapeutic agents. (D) Cells were pretreated with or without E2 for 12 days. Fulvestrant was added to the medium 12 hours before E2 treatment. The chemotherapeutic agents used in the PI dye exclusion assays were paclitaxel, fluorouracil, and vinorelbine. One concentration was tested for each chemotherapeutic agent. Bars correspond to mean ± SD.