Local estrogen axis in the human bone microenvironment regulates estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Approximately 70% of all breast cancers express the estrogen receptor, and are regulated by estrogen. While the ovaries are the primary source of estrogen in premenopausal women, most breast cancer is diagnosed following menopause, when systemic levels of this hormone decline. Estrogen production from androgen precursors is catalyzed by the aromatase enzyme. Although aromatase expression and local estrogen production in breast adipose tissue have been implicated in the development of primary breast cancer, the source of estrogen involved in the regulation of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) metastatic breast cancer progression is less clear.

Methods

Bone is the most common distant site of breast cancer metastasis, particularly for ER+ breast cancers. We employed a

SUBMITTER: Amanatullah DF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5688761 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature