Identification of miRNAs as biomarkers for acquired endocrine resistance in breast cancer.
Therapies targeting estrogen receptor α (ERα) including tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and aromatase inhibitors (AI), e.g., letrozole, have proven successful in reducing the death rate for breast cancer patients whose initial tumors express ERα. However, about 40% of patients develop acquired resistance to these endocrine treatments. There is a critical need to develop sensitive circulating biomarkers that accurately identify signaling pathways altered in breast cancer patients resistant to endocrine therapies. Serum miRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers of the progression of endocrine-resistant breast cancer due to their cancer-specific expression and stability. Exosomal transfer of miRNAs has been implicated in metastasis and endocrine-resistance. This review focuses on miRNAs in breast tumors and in serum, including exosomes, from breast cancer patients that are associated with resistance to tamoxifen since it is best-studied.
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Center for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
Penn
P
Muluhngwi
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Center for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. Electronic address: carolyn.klinge@louisville.edu.
Carolyn M
CM
Klinge
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055354:Exosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000077289:Letrozole
Biomarkers; Breast cancer; Serum; Tamoxifen; miRNA