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Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer
10:36

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer

Published on: March 17, 2016

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Epigenetic Mechanisms Influencing Therapeutic Response in Breast Cancer

Amaia Arruabarrena-Aristorena1,2,3, Eneda Toska4,5

  • 1Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.

Frontiers in Oncology
|July 1, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer treatments face resistance. Epigenetic changes drive tumor growth and impact therapy effectiveness, necessitating new strategies to overcome resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Most breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ER+).
  • Targeting ER signaling improves survival but resistance develops, particularly in metastatic disease.
  • Epigenetic dysregulation is increasingly recognized in cancer development and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review advances in understanding chromatin-based mechanisms in breast cancer.
  • To explore how epigenetic alterations influence response to standard therapies.
  • To discuss novel therapeutic strategies for overcoming treatment resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on breast cancer epigenetics and therapy.
  • Analysis of chromatin modifiers and transcription factors in tumorigenesis.
  • Discussion of emerging epigenetic-based therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic regulatory processes are key contributors to breast cancer initiation and progression.
  • Aberrant epigenetic mechanisms mediate resistance to endocrine therapies.
  • Chromatin modifications impact the efficacy of standard breast cancer treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding epigenetic mechanisms is crucial for developing effective breast cancer therapies.
  • Targeting epigenetic pathways offers a promising strategy to overcome therapeutic resistance.
  • Combination therapies involving epigenetic agents and targeted treatments show potential for improved patient outcomes.
Keywords:
breast cancerchromatin regulationendocrine therapyepigeneticsestrogen receptor - ESR1transcription factor

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