Androgens and ovarian cancers.
Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in women. Numerous studies indicate that the steroid hormones have been implicated in the etiology and/or progression of epithelial ovarian cancer and support a role for androgens, including: 1) androgen receptor (AR) is present in primate ovaries at almost all stages of the menstrual cycle and involve folliculogenesis and ovulation; 2) high androgen serum levels show high risk of ovarian cancer and ovarian cancer occurring after menopause when the balance of ovarian steroid production shifts from estrogens to androgens; 3) ovarian cancer tissue shows a 90% AR positive rate and is associated with favorable outcomes; 4) androgens promote or inhibit ovarian cancer cell growth; 5) chemotherapy decreases androgen production from cancer cells. This review seeks to summarize our current understanding about the roles of androgens, AR and AR coregulators in the initiation and/or progression of ovarian cancers.
Wang
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Chang
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D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D000975:Antioxidants; D011944:Receptors, Androgen