Interaction between estrogen receptor alpha and insulin/IGF signaling in breast cancer.
Estrogens and insulin/Insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) have potent positive effects on the proliferation of mammary epithelial cells and estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells. A cooperative crosstalk between estrogens and insulin/IGF-I signaling pathways exists and it plays a critical role in breast carcinogenesis, tumor cell proliferation, differentiation and survival through the modulation of multiple biological events. The biological effects of estrogens are mainly mediated by the activation of estrogen receptor (ERalpha) whose activity is deeply influenced by the insulin/IGF-I signaling pathway. On the other hand, estrogens enhance insulin signaling by increasing the expression and/or the functional activity of some proteins involved in the insulin/IGF-I pathway. This review will focus on the critical node of the IGF-I network involved in the crosstalk with ERalpha and implicated in breast cancer development and progression.
Lanzino
Marilena
M
Department of Pharmaco-Biology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, 87036, Italy.
Morelli
Catia
C
Garofalo
Cecilia
C
Panno
Maria Luisa
ML
Mauro
Loredana
L
Andò
Sebastiano
S
Sisci
Diego
D
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I