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Nuclear hormone receptor variants: their role in malignancy and progression to hormone resistance in cancer

M Sluyser1

  • 1Division of Tumour Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute.

Acta Endocrinologica
|January 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Structural variants of nuclear hormone receptors can promote cancer by interfering with normal receptor function or activating genes independently. These variants also contribute to hormone resistance in cancers like breast and prostate.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Structural variants of nuclear hormone receptors are identified in tumor tissues.
  • These variants are implicated in cancer development and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the oncogenic potential of nuclear hormone receptor structural variants.
  • To understand their role in hormone-independent gene activation and hormone resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental evidence on nuclear hormone receptor variants.
  • Analysis of proposed oncogenic mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Nuclear hormone receptor variants can act as dominant negative oncogenes, suppressing normal receptor function.
  • Variants can activate hormone-responsive genes without hormonal signaling.

Conclusions:

  • Structural variants of nuclear hormone receptors possess oncogenic potential through dominant-negative effects or hormone-independent gene activation.
  • These mechanisms contribute to oncogenesis and the development of hormone resistance in cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.

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