Mechanisms associated with resistance to tamoxifen in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer (review).
Anti-estrogens such as tamoxifen are widely used in the clinic to treat estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors. Patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer initially respond to treatment with anti-hormonal agents such as tamoxifen, but remissions are often followed by the acquisition of resistance and, ultimately, disease relapse. The development of a rationale for the effective treatment of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer requires an understanding of the complex signal transduction mechanisms. In the present study, we explored some mechanisms associated with resistance to tamoxifen, such as pharmacologic mechanisms, loss or modification in estrogen receptor expression, alterations in co-regulatory proteins and the regulation of the different signaling pathways that participate in different cellular processes such as survival, proliferation, stress, cell cycle, inhibition of apoptosis regulated by the Bcl-2 family, autophagy, altered expression of microRNA, and signaling pathways that regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the tumor microenvironment. Delineation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of resistance may aid in the development of treatment strategies to enhance response and compromise resistance.
Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Medical Research Unit in Human Genetics, Pediatric Hospital, National Medical Center Century XXI (CMN-SXXI), Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Mexico City, Mexico.
Rubí
R
Viedma-Rodríguez
Unit of Morphology and Function, Faculty of Higher Studies (FES) Iztacala, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Los Reyes Iztacala, State of Mexico, Mexico.
Luis
L
Baiza-Gutman
Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Medical Research Unit in Human Genetics, Pediatric Hospital, National Medical Center Century XXI (CMN-SXXI), Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Mexico City, Mexico.
Fabio
F
Salamanca-Gómez
Biomedical Research Institute (IIBM), UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico.
Mariana
M
Diaz-Zaragoza
Unit of Morphology and Function, Faculty of Higher Studies (FES) Iztacala, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Los Reyes Iztacala, State of Mexico, Mexico.
Guadalupe
G
Martínez-Hernández
Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Medical Research Unit in Human Genetics, Pediatric Hospital, National Medical Center Century XXI (CMN-SXXI), Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Mexico City, Mexico.
Ruth
R
Ruiz Esparza-Garrido
Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Medical Research Unit in Human Genetics, Pediatric Hospital, National Medical Center Century XXI (CMN-SXXI), Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Mexico City, Mexico.
Miguel Angel
MA
Velázquez-Flores
Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Medical Research Unit in Human Genetics, Pediatric Hospital, National Medical Center Century XXI (CMN-SXXI), Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Mexico City, Mexico.
Diego
D
Arenas-Aranda
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D013629:Tamoxifen