New perspectives into the biological and clinical relevance of oestrogen receptors in the human breast.
Oestrogen receptor (ER) is arguably the single most important biological predictive factor that exists today. In the last 10 years or so, however, our understanding of ER biology has undergone a paradigm shift following the identification of a second ER, ERbeta, with the original ER being renamed ERalpha. A number of isoforms have additionally been described, especially for ERbeta. Our knowledge of ER signalling has also increased with the recognition of accessory co-regulatory proteins, which help direct the transcriptional cascade. Here we outline these changes and discuss what biological and clinical implications these could have in the mammary gland.
Speirs
V
V
Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building, St James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
Walker
R A
RA
Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Robert Kilpatrick Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, PO Box 65, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK.
D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000503:physiopathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D066246:ErbB Receptors