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RORα, a potential tumor suppressor and therapeutic target of breast cancer

Jun Du1, Ren Xu

  • 1Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. ren.xu2010@uky.edu.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 28, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Retinoid orphan nuclear receptor alpha (RORα) acts as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. Its down-regulation suggests RORα is a potential therapeutic target for treating breast cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Nuclear receptors (NRs) play a role in breast cancer progression.
  • Many NRs have known ligands, but some are orphan receptors.
  • RORα, a member of the retinoid orphan nuclear receptor (ROR) subfamily, regulates cellular and pathological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of RORα in breast cancer progression.
  • To explore RORα's potential as a therapeutic target.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of RORα expression in breast cancer versus normal mammary tissue.
  • Evaluation of RORα's effect on malignant phenotypes in vitro and in vivo.
  • Examination of RORα's canonical and non-canonical pathways in regulating breast cancer cell functions.

Main Results:

  • RORα is frequently down-regulated or hypoactivated in breast cancer.
  • RORα expression suppresses malignant phenotypes in breast cancer cells.
  • RORα activity influences cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion via distinct pathways.

Conclusions:

  • RORα functions as a potent tumor suppressor in breast cancer.
  • RORα represents a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.

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