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Updated: Oct 27, 2025

Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells
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Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells

Published on: February 21, 2014

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Arming androgen receptors to oppose oncogenic estrogen receptor activity in breast cancer

Theresa E Hickey1, Amy R Dwyer1, Wayne D Tilley2

  • 1Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

British Journal of Cancer
|July 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Most estrogen receptor alpha (ER)-driven breast cancers may benefit from androgen receptor (AR) agonists, not antagonists. This approach offers a new strategy against treatment resistance, a major cause of breast cancer mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Estrogen receptor alpha (ER) drives most breast cancers.
  • Therapies targeting ER are limited by resistance, leading to mortality.
  • Androgen receptor (AR) is a potential therapeutic target for ER-driven breast cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence for targeting the androgen receptor (AR) in ER-driven breast cancer.
  • To evaluate the potential of AR agonists as a treatment strategy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating AR in ER-driven breast cancer.
  • Analysis of preclinical and clinical data on AR-targeted therapies.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests AR plays a role in ER-driven breast cancer growth and resistance.
  • Preclinical data support the efficacy of AR agonists in models of ER-driven breast cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting the androgen receptor (AR) with agonists presents a promising therapeutic strategy for ER-driven breast cancers.
  • This approach may overcome resistance to current ER-targeted therapies, improving patient outcomes.

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