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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells
16:24

Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells

Published on: February 21, 2014

Minireview: nuclear receptors and breast cancer

Suzanne D Conzen1

  • 1Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, MC 2115, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. sdconzen@uchicago.edu

Molecular Endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.)
|April 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Nuclear receptors (NRs) beyond estrogen and progesterone play crucial roles in breast cancer. Targeting these NRs offers new avenues for breast cancer prevention and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Breast cancer research historically focused on estrogen and progesterone receptors.
  • Recent advancements enable the study of other nuclear receptors (NRs) in breast cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of various nuclear receptors (NRs) in breast cancer biology.
  • To understand the interplay between NRs and growth factor signaling in breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized gene expression arrays.
  • Employed real-time quantitative RT-PCR.
  • Applied immunohistochemical techniques for NR analysis in human breast cancers.

Main Results:

  • Identified the presence and importance of additional NRs (steroid hormones, vitamins A/D, fatty acids, dietary lipids) in breast cancer.
  • Demonstrated that activated NRs influence genomic and nongenomic pathways, coordinating with growth factor signaling.
  • Revealed a significant interplay between NR and epithelial cell growth factor signaling relevant to breast cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Nuclear receptors, beyond ER and PR, are integral to breast cancer development and progression.
  • Targeting NRs presents promising novel strategies for breast cancer prevention and treatment.

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