The potential role of estrogen receptors and the SRC family as targets for the treatment of breast cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Breast cancer has a number of subtypes, the main ones are estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive, luminal type A and B. Treatment selection, with respect to hormonal therapy, is based upon ER expression. Whilst for ER-positive cancers, endocrine therapy is highly successful in the adjuvant setting, a significant proportion of cancers exhibit hormone resistance, often associated with altered growth factor receptor or ER signalling. Modulation of steroid receptor function by receptor co-activators or repressors is a potential mechanism of resistance. The p160 or SRC proto-oncogene family of co-activators are important in breast cancer response to endocrine therapy and can act as a paradigm of co-activator function.

OBJECTIVE/METHODS:

This review focuses on the role of ER and ER co-activators in breast cancer and current approaches to targeting SRC co-factors for treatment of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS:

There is a drive to selectively apply aromatase inhibitors on the basis of either risk or biological evidence of resistance to tamoxifen treatment. Both strategies may yield improved treatment to benefit ratios.

• Authors: Melanie Spears, John Bartlett
• Journal: Expert opinion on therapeutic targets (Expert Opin Ther Targets) Vol. 13 Issue 6 Pg. 665-74 (Jun 2009) ISSN: 1744-7631 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19456271 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Estrogen Receptor Modulators
• Estrogen Receptor alpha
• Estrogen Receptor beta
• Ligands
• MAS1 protein, human
• Proto-Oncogene Mas
• src-Family Kinases

Topics

• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, metabolism)
• Estrogen Receptor Modulators (therapeutic use)
• Estrogen Receptor alpha (drug effects, metabolism)
• Estrogen Receptor beta (drug effects, metabolism)
• Humans
• Ligands
• Proto-Oncogene Mas
• Signal Transduction
• src-Family Kinases (drug effects, metabolism)