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The glucocorticoid receptor signalling in breast cancer

Paraskevi Moutsatsou1, Athanasios G Papavassiliou

  • 1Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. pmoutsatsou@med.uoa.gr

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
|December 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Glucocorticoids, used with chemotherapy for breast cancer, can reduce treatment effectiveness by activating the glucocorticoid receptor. This receptor influences genes controlling cell growth, survival, and metastasis, leading to chemoresistance.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Glucocorticoids are commonly co-administered with chemotherapy for breast cancer.
  • Evidence suggests glucocorticoids may paradoxically inhibit chemotherapy effectiveness (chemosensitivity).
  • The molecular mechanisms underlying glucocorticoid-induced chemoresistance in breast cancer are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular basis of glucocorticoid-induced chemoresistance in breast cancer.
  • To elucidate the role of the glucocorticoid receptor in mediating these effects.
  • To explore the interplay between glucocorticoid receptor signaling and other relevant signaling pathways in breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on glucocorticoid action in breast cancer.
  • Analysis of glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transcriptional regulation.
  • Examination of signaling cascade cross-talk in breast cancer.

Main Results:

  • Glucocorticoids induce effects via glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transcriptional regulation.
  • This regulation impacts genes involved in cell growth, apoptosis, differentiation, metastasis, and survival.
  • Glucocorticoid receptor signaling interacts with other prevalent signaling cascades in breast cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Glucocorticoid receptor signaling is a key mediator of chemoresistance in breast cancer.
  • Understanding the molecular interplay of glucocorticoid receptor with other pathways is crucial.
  • Further research into these mechanisms may reveal strategies to overcome glucocorticoid-induced chemoresistance.

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