title: Hormones and hormone antagonists: mechanisms of action in carcinogenesis of endometrial and breast cancer.
abstract: Proliferation of breast and endometrial cells is under the control of ovarian steroid hormones (SHs) such as oestrogen and progesterone. They mediate diverse physiological functions via interaction with nuclear-localised steroid hormone receptors (HRs). The SH receptor complex modifies the expression of SH-regulated genes by binding to conserved binding sites in their promoter region or through cross-talk with other transcription factors. In non-malignant tissues, HRs are in balance with other factors regulating proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. While dysfunction of the regulatory mechanisms is a part of malignant transformation, functional SH receptors can promote growth of SH-responsive tumours. Therefore, anti-hormones that block the interaction of steroid hormones with the SH receptor are useful tools for the treatment of SH-responsive carcinomas. However, a portion of ER-positive breast cancers and most endometrial cancers do not respond to anti-oestrogens and continued treatment results in hormone resistance, mostly without loss of the ER. This review focuses on the mechanisms of action of hormones and anti-hormones in breast and endometrial carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Düsseldorf, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flötotto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Djahansouzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gläser
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanstein
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niederacher
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brumm
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beckmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk / Q000502:physiology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D004967:Estrogens; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D006728:Hormones; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D013256:Steroids; D014157:Transcription Factors