Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer
Published on: March 17, 2016
Steroid metabolism in breast cancer: Where are we and what are we missing?
Donita Africander1, Karl-Heinz Storbeck1
1Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
Abstract:
It is well-known that breast cancer is hormone-dependent and that steroid hormones exert their mitogenic effects by binding to estrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors. Vital to our understanding and treatment of this malignancy, is the local metabolism of steroid hormones in breast cancer tissue. This review summarises our current knowledge on steroid producing pathways in the adrenal, ovary and breast, while focussing on the availability of specific circulating hormone precursors and steroidogenic enzymes involved in the local synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones in the breast. Consequently, we highlight alternate pathways that may be instrumental in the etiology of breast cancer.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
Overview of Protein Metabolism
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Factors Affecting Drug Biotransformation: Biological
Species differences: Variations in enzyme systems across species can cause disparities in drug metabolism. For instance, humans may metabolize certain drugs faster than rodents, altering therapeutic effects.
Strain differences: Genetic variations within a species can result in differing enzyme activity, impacting drug response and toxicity. For example, some mouse strains may...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...

