Progression from steroid sensitive to insensitive state in breast tumours.
Progression from a hormone sensitive to insensitive tumour can take place by several independent pathways, some of which involve loss of receptor, whereas, others may be due to the presence of abnormal receptors. Examples now exist of insensitivity despite seemingly normal receptors, such cells being generated either by spontaneous changes or by steroid deprivation. Breast cancer is a multifactorial set of diseases with steroids being only one component of the jigsaw; it is likely that further mechanisms of response loss will be identified when experimental systems are refined and additional parts of the jigsaw identified.
King
R J
RJ
Imperial Cancer Research Fund, School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford.
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface