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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
10:36
Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer
Published on: March 17, 2016
Estrogens in the breast tissue: a systematic review.
Lusine Yaghjyan1, Graham A Colditz
1Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Campus Box 8100, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. yaghjyanl@wudosis.wustl.edu
Cancer Causes & Control : CCC
|February 3, 2011
Summary
Estrogen
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Estrogens are implicated in breast cancer development.
- Research has focused on systemic and cellular estrogen levels.
- The breast tissue itself may produce estrogens locally (intracrine activity).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies measuring local estrogen levels within breast tissue.
- To understand the role of breast tissue estrogen in breast carcinogenesis.
- To identify knowledge gaps and suggest future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of published literature.
- Studies measuring local estrogen concentrations in breast tissue were included.
- Analysis focused on methodologies and findings related to breast tissue estrogen levels.
Main Results:
- Limited data exists on local estrogen levels in breast tissue.
- Evidence suggests breast tissue can be an intracrine site of estrogen production.
- Variability in reported levels highlights methodological challenges.
Conclusions:
- Local estrogen levels in breast tissue are understudied but potentially crucial for breast cancer.
- Further research is needed to accurately quantify and understand the impact of breast tissue estrogens.
- This knowledge could lead to novel breast cancer prevention strategies targeting local estrogen activity.
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