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Updated: May 24, 2026

Reverse Yeast Two-hybrid System to Identify Mammalian Nuclear Receptor Residues that Interact with Ligands and/or Antagonists
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Reverse Yeast Two-hybrid System to Identify Mammalian Nuclear Receptor Residues that Interact with Ligands and/or Antagonists

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Regulation of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in cancer: regulating steroid receptor at pre-receptor stage

Mirja Rotinen1, Joaquín Villar, Ignacio Encío

  • 1Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Avda. Barañain, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry
|March 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Elevated hormone levels drive endocrine cancers by altering steroidogenic enzymes. Targeting these enzymes offers a novel "pre-receptor" treatment strategy for hormone-dependent diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Increased intracellular hormone concentrations are linked to endocrine-related cancers like breast, prostate, and thyroid.
  • Deregulated steroidogenic enzymes create an imbalance of active steroids, promoting tumor cell proliferation.
  • 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSDs) are key enzymes in sex hormone biosynthesis and metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of 17β-HSD enzyme deregulation in endocrine-related tumors.
  • To highlight the role of these enzymes in hormone-dependent cancer development.
  • To discuss the potential of targeting 17β-HSDs as a therapeutic strategy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on 17β-HSDs and endocrine cancers.
  • Analysis of enzyme expression patterns in tumor tissues.
  • Examination of preclinical and clinical data on 17β-HSD inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • 17β-HSDs play a critical role in the final steps of sex hormone production and inactivation.
  • Aberrant expression of specific 17β-HSD isoforms is observed in various endocrine tumors.
  • Inhibitors targeting 17β-HSDs show promise for cancer treatment at the 'pre-receptor' level.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting 17β-HSDs represents a promising therapeutic avenue for endocrine cancers.
  • Developing selective and potent inhibitors is crucial for successful clinical application.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of all 17β-HSD isoforms in tumorigenesis.

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