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Updated: May 20, 2026

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer
Published on: March 17, 2016
Endocrine resistance in breast cancer: from cellular signaling pathways to epigenetic mechanisms
Stéphanie Bianco1, Nicolas Gévry
1Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
Abstract:
Although multiple cellular mechanisms have been proposed to explain endocrine resistance in breast cancer, the genomics events promoting the dysregulation of gene expression pattern are not clearly understood. Because chromatin plays a dynamic role in the estrogen receptor α (ERα) transcriptional program, we herein review signaling pathways implicated in endocrine resistance and try to merge them with recent epigenetic studies.
Insights
Genomic events causing endocrine resistance in breast cancer are unclear. This review merges signaling pathways with epigenetic studies, focusing on chromatin
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Endocrine resistance is a major challenge in breast cancer treatment.
- Existing cellular mechanisms do not fully explain endocrine resistance.
- Genomic events leading to altered gene expression patterns remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review signaling pathways involved in endocrine resistance.
- To integrate these pathways with recent epigenetic findings.
- To elucidate the role of chromatin in estrogen receptor α (ERα) transcriptional dysregulation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of signaling pathways in endocrine resistance.
- Analysis of recent epigenetic studies.
- Integration of signaling pathways and epigenetic data.
Main Results:
- Chromatin dynamics are crucial in the ERα transcriptional program.
- Specific signaling pathways contribute to epigenetic alterations driving resistance.
- A clearer understanding of genomic events underlying gene expression dysregulation is emerging.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic modifications, influenced by signaling pathways, play a significant role in endocrine resistance.
- Understanding these integrated mechanisms is key to developing new therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.
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