Cytochrome P-450-mediated redox cycling of estrogens.

The cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions of the synthetic stilbene estrogen (E)-diethylstilbestrol (DES) and of 2-hydroxyestradiol have been investigated in vitro. Depending on the cofactor used, microsomal enzymes catalyzed reductions and/or oxidations of the estrogens: Phenobarbital-induced rat liver microsomes catalyzed the oxidation of DES to 4',4"-diethylstilbestrol quinone (DES quinone) with cumene hydroperoxide as cofactor. The quinone was unstable and spontaneously rearranged to (Z,Z)-dienestrol. DES quinone was reduced to a mixture of E- and Z-isomers of DES by NADPH catalyzed by purified cytochrome P-450 reductase. After rearrangement of the quinone to (Z,Z)-dienestrol, reduction reactions did not proceed. Rat liver microsomes and NADPH catalyzed the conversion of DES to (Z,Z)-dienestrol and (Z)-DES, but DES quinone could not be detected. The reactions described provide direct evidence for microsome-mediated redox cycling of estrogens. Although DES quinone could not be detected in the incubation of DES, microsomes, and NADPH as cofactor, the intermediacy of the quinone is demonstrated by the formation of (Z,Z)-dienestrol, the marker product for oxidation. The quinone could not be detected because it was rapidly reduced to DES and its Z-isomer. Microsome-mediated redox cycling between 2-hydroxyestradiol and the corresponding quinone was also demonstrated. Using cumene hydroperoxide as cofactor, the oxidation to the quinone was favored, while with NADPH as cofactor the reduction to 2-hydroxyestradiol was preferred. It is postulated that microsome-mediated redox cycling of estrogens plays a role in hormonal carcinogenesis.

Hormonal carcinogenesis: separation of estrogenicity from carcinogenicity.

Estrogens are known to induce tumors in several animal species. To understand the mechanism of hormonal carcinogenesis, estrogen-induced renal carcinoma in male Syrian hamsters was investigated using estradiol and 2-fluoroestradiol. The biological activities of the latter steroid were compared with those of the natural hormone, because of the reduced metabolic conversion of 2-fluoroestradiol to catechol estrogen metabolites. 2-Fluoroestradiol was administered to male Syrian hamsters at three times the dose (60 mg) of estradiol (20 mg, positive control) by s.c. implantation. After 7 months, 75% of the estradiol-treated hamsters had kidney tumors, while in animals exposed to 2-fluoroestradiol renal carcinoma could not be detected. The reduced tumor incidence by the fluorinated steroid is not due to a lack of estrogenic potency. In the test animals, pituitary LH concentrations matched those measured in estradiol-treated hamsters and the reduction in testes weights was comparable. Furthermore, in immature female rats, uterine wet weight increases illustrate that 2-fluoroestradiol is a potent estrogen. The observed increases in uterine weight were shown to be accompanied by increases in protein and DNA synthesis comparable to those observed in estradiol-treated animals. 2-Fluoroestradiol stimulated growth of H-301 cells in vivo. These cells are estrogen-dependent for growth and are derived from the primary hamster kidney tumor. The results indicate that hormonal activity and carcinogenicity of estrogens are separable properties.

Carcinogenicity and metabolic activation of hexestrol.

The carcinogenic activity of the synthetic estrogen hexestrol was measured in male Syrian hamsters. Between 90% and 100% of the animals treated with hexestrol or with 3',3",5',5"-tetradeuteriohexestrol, implanted subcutaneously as 25-mg pellets, were found with renal carcinoma after 6-7 months. In vitro hexestrol metabolism, mediated by phenobarbital-induced rat liver microsomes, led to the formation of 3'-hydroxyhexestrol. This metabolite was identified by comparison with authentic reference material synthesized by oxidation of hexestrol with Fremy's salt. Diethylstilbestrol could not be detected as a metabolite. In urine of male Syrian hamsters, 3'-hydroxyhexestrol, 3'-methoxyhexestrol, 1-hydroxyhexestrol, and other hydroxylated and/or methoxylated hexestrol metabolites were identified. Again, diethylstilbestrol was not detectable as a hexestrol metabolite in vivo. The reactivity of 3'-hydroxyhexestrol was then studied to determine if this catechol estrogen played a role in hexestrol carcinogenicity. Horseradish peroxidase catalyzed the oxidation of 3'-hydroxyhexestrol to 3',4'-hexestrol quinone. This oxidation reaction could also be carried out non-enzymatically using silver oxide or silver carbonate on celite as oxidants. The quinone was unstable (t1/2 in methylene chloride: 53 min). It reacted with sulfur-containing compounds such as mercaptoethanol by Michael addition to form 3'-(2-hydroxyethylthio)-5'-hydroxyhexestrol. 3',4'-Hexestrol quinone reacted with simple amines such as ethylamine to form N-ethyl-aminohexestrol. The chemical reactions described above were carried out to test the reactivity of identified or suspected metabolic intermediates of hexestrol. It was concluded that carcinogenicity of hexestrol was not based on its conversion to diethylstilbestrol. Rather, catechol estrogen formation may be necessary for the carcinogenic action of hexestrol in analogy to events observed earlier with estradiol.