2013/09/12 by Prasenjit Dey, Rodrigo P. A. Barros, Margaret Warner +2 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Estrogen and related hormone effects #Retinoids in leukemia and cellular processes #Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
paper · pdf · doi:10.1530/jme-13-0150
openalex publication_date 2013/09/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/21
Estrogen and its receptors (ERs) influence many biological processes in physiology and pathology in men and women. ERs are involved in the etiology and/or progression of cancers of the prostate, breast, uterus, ovary, colon, lung, stomach, and malignancies of the immune system. In estrogen-sensitive malignancies, ERβ usually is a tumor suppressor and ERα is an oncogene. ERβ regulates genes in several key pathways including tumor suppression (p53, PTEN); metabolism (PI3K); survival (Akt); proliferation pathways (p45(Skp2), cMyc, and cyclin E); cell-cycle arresting factors (p21(WAF1), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (CDKN1A)), p27(Kip1), and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs); protection from reactive oxygen species, glutathione peroxidase. Because they are activated by small molecules, ERs are excellent targets for pharmaceuticals. ERα antagonists have been used for many years in the treatment of breast cancer and more recently pharmaceutical companies have produced agonists which are very selective for ERα or ERβ. ERβ agonists are being considered for preventing progression of cancer, treatment of anxiety and depression, as anti-inflammatory agents and as agents, which prevent or reduce the severity of neurodegenerative diseases.