TY - JOUR
T1 - Androgen receptor in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer
T2 - Beyond expression
AU - Basile, Debora
AU - Cinausero, Marika
AU - Iacono, Donatella
AU - Pelizzari, Giacomo
AU - Bonotto, Marta
AU - Vitale, Maria Grazia
AU - Gerratana, Lorenzo
AU - Puglisi, Fabio
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - In recent years, new therapeutic approaches have reshaped the overall strategy of breast cancer (BC) treatment and have markedly improved patient survival. This is, in part, due to novel therapies for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC. Unfortunately, many patients present de novo resistance to these therapies or develop an acquired resistance over time. Therefore, research is now focused on discovering new molecular targets to overcome these resistances. Interestingly, preclinical and clinical studies have shown a critical role for the cross-talk between androgen receptor (AR) and ER in luminal-like BC. AR is expressed in >60% of BC and in up to 90% of ERα-positive tumors. Multiple studies suggest that AR is associated with a favorable prognosis. However, AR overexpression and, in particular, the high AR:ER ratio, seem to be involved in resistance to hormonal treatment. In this setting, a group of BCs could benefit from AR-inhibitors; nevertheless, some ER-positive BC patients do not seem to benefit from this strategy. Therefore, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that would enable the selection of patients who might benefit from combination treatment with ER and AR inhibitors.
AB - In recent years, new therapeutic approaches have reshaped the overall strategy of breast cancer (BC) treatment and have markedly improved patient survival. This is, in part, due to novel therapies for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC. Unfortunately, many patients present de novo resistance to these therapies or develop an acquired resistance over time. Therefore, research is now focused on discovering new molecular targets to overcome these resistances. Interestingly, preclinical and clinical studies have shown a critical role for the cross-talk between androgen receptor (AR) and ER in luminal-like BC. AR is expressed in >60% of BC and in up to 90% of ERα-positive tumors. Multiple studies suggest that AR is associated with a favorable prognosis. However, AR overexpression and, in particular, the high AR:ER ratio, seem to be involved in resistance to hormonal treatment. In this setting, a group of BCs could benefit from AR-inhibitors; nevertheless, some ER-positive BC patients do not seem to benefit from this strategy. Therefore, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that would enable the selection of patients who might benefit from combination treatment with ER and AR inhibitors.
KW - Androgen receptor
KW - Anti-androgen therapy
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Endocrine resistance
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.09.006
DO - 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.09.006
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29078133
AN - SCOPUS:85032026200
VL - 61
SP - 15
EP - 22
JO - Cancer Treatment Reviews
JF - Cancer Treatment Reviews
SN - 0305-7372
ER -