Figure 2

Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway alters the growth response of Androgen Receptor In Breast Epithelium (ARIBE) cells to androgen receptor (AR) ligand. (A) Control cells (MCF-10A and 10A plus vector) and two ARIBE clones were cultured in normal propagation media (with 20 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF)) and treated with vehicle, 10 μmol/l bicalutamide, 1 nmol/l R1881, or a combination of R1881 and bicalutamide. Cells were counted after either 2 or 4 days of treatment, and normalized to values of cells counted on the day of drug addition (day 0). Error bars represent the standard deviation of the mean of three independent cell counts. The growth difference between cells treated with R1881 and R1881 plus bicalutamide was significant by Student's two-tailed t-test (P < 0.001). (B) Cells were cultured under normal propagation conditions except for the absence of EGF from the medium. Cells were treated with vehicle or drugs as above. Cells were counted after either 4 or 8 days of treatment, and normalized to values of cells counted on the day of drug addition (day 0). Error bars represent the standard deviation of the mean of three independent cell counts. The growth difference between cells treated with R1881 and R1881 plus bicalutamide was significant by Student's two-tailed t-test (P < 0.01).