Inhibition of estrogen actions in human gynecological malignancies: new aspects of endocrine therapy for endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer.

Abstract

Endometrial carcinoma and possibly ovarian carcinoma are considered "estrogen-dependent tumors" in human gynecological malignancies. In endometrial carcinoma, the enzymes responsible for intratumoral estrogen metabolism and biosynthesis are different from those in human breast carcinoma, although both of them are considered "estrogen-dependent malignancies". Specific and effective endocrine treatment of endometrial carcinoma should be explored, although progestin agents have been widely used for a long time. Aromatase inhibitors, the most effective endocrine agents of breast carcinoma, retinoids, metabolites of vitamin A, and synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma ligands, used for the treatment of insulin resistance in type II diabetes mellitus, may be the important candidates for possible endocrine treatment of endometrial carcinoma. In ovarian carcinoma, several clinical studies recently demonstrated that aromatase inhibitors had some therapeutic activity against recurrent ovarian carcinoma. However, at least at this juncture, further studies should be required to establish an aromatase inhibitor treatment as one form of endocrine therapy of ovarian carcinoma in future.

• Authors: Kiyoshi Ito, Hiroki Utsunomiya, Hitoshi Niikura, Nobuo Yaegashi, Hironobu Sasano
• Journal: Molecular and cellular endocrinology (Mol Cell Endocrinol) Vol. 340 Issue 2 Pg. 161-7 (Jul 04 2011) ISSN: 1872-8057 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 21111773 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
• Estrogens

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (therapeutic use)
• Endometrial Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Estrogens (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Models, Biological
• Ovarian Neoplasms (drug therapy)