Steroid hormones and cancer: (III) observations from human subjects.
Epidemiological evidence strongly suggests that steroid hormones are implicated in the risk of cancers of the breast, ovary and endometrium. However, it has proved difficult to implicate specific hormones or show that measurement of circulating hormones can identify women who will go on to develop malignant disease. There are, however, more convincing data that a proportion of established cancers are dependent upon steroid hormones for their continued growth and these underpin the use of endocrine manoeuvres in the treatment of these malignancies. Increased knowledge of the synthesis, release and mechanism of action of steroid hormones has led to the development of novel therapies for endocrine sensitive cancer and on-going research can reasonably be expected to identify tumour markers which can accurately predict hormone-dependency and provide better understanding of the mechanism by which response and resistance to therapy occur. The hope is that this knowledge will translate into more effective and rational endocrine treatment benefiting increased numbers of patients.
Miller
W R
WR
Department of Clinical Oncology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
Langdon
S P
SP
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017584:Reproductive History; D012307:Risk Factors; D013256:Steroids
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D013256:Steroids; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone