Unraveling the mechanisms of endocrine resistance in breast cancer: new therapeutic opportunities.
Two thirds of breast cancers express the estrogen receptor (ER), which contributes to tumor development and progression. ER-targeted therapy is therefore widely used in breast cancer to inhibit signaling through ER and disrupt breast cancer growth. This therapeutic strategy, particularly using the antiestrogen tamoxifen, is proven to increase the cure rates in early breast cancer, improve patient outcomes in advanced disease, and reduce breast cancer incidence in the prevention setting. Despite the recent integration of more powerful endocrine agents into breast cancer care, resistance to all forms of endocrine therapy remains a major problem. New insight into ER biology and progress in understanding resistance mechanisms, mediated by molecular crosstalk between ER and various growth factor signaling pathways, are generating tremendous promise for new therapeutic opportunities to target resistance and improve breast cancer disease outcomes.
Massarweh
Suleiman
S
Department of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA. massarweh@uky.edu
Schiff
Rachel
R
D000818:Animals; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk / Q000502:physiology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen