The Molecular Mechanism Underlying the Acquisition of the Antiestrogen-Resistant Phenotype in Breast Cancer.
Breast Cancer is thought to develope as an estrogen-dependent tumor. Approximately 30% of breast cancers can be treated by agents that block estrogen. However, all breast cancers have been known to acquire the hormone therapy-resistant phenotype with ultimate fatal results. Recent progress in breast cancer research has porvided the important clues for elucidating the molecular mechanism of this conversion. The presence of the cross-talk between estrogen signaling and other mitogen-dependent signaling has been clarified at the estrogen recepter level. In addition, an estrogen-dependent transcriptional control mechanism has been characterized in detail. These breakthrough and the development of a pure antiestrogen would make it possible to consider the more sophisticated hormone therapy. In this review article, I summarized the current findings which seem to be essential in the treatment of breast cancer.
Sato
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The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nissei Hospital, 6-3-8 Itachibori, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550, Japan.