Hormone-associated cancer: mechanistic similarities between human breast cancer and estrogen-induced kidney carcinogenesis in hamsters.
Estrogens are risk factors for human breast cancer and induce kidney tumors in Syrian hamsters. Mechanistic features of the estrogen-induced hamster kidney tumor model have been compared with corresponding aspects of human breast cancer to gain insight into the mechanism of human mammary oncogenesis. Shared characteristics point to a mechanism of metabolic activation of steroidal estrogens to 4-hydroxylated catechol metabolites that may undergo metabolic redox cycling, a mechanism of generation of reactive free radicals. Tumors may arise in cells genetically altered by various types of estrogen-induced DNA damage. At the same time, these altered cells may respond to estrogen receptor-mediated stimuli in support of cell transformation and growth.
Liehr
J G
JG
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1031, USA. jliehr@marlin.utmb.edu
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004249:DNA Damage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000209:etiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
D004967:Estrogens; D005609:Free Radicals