Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer: a multidisciplinary challenge

• Published in: Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Mechanisms of disease 2011-03, Vol.3 (2), p.216-230
• Main Authors: Zwart, Wilbert, Theodorou, Vasiliki, Carroll, Jason S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiestrogens; Biology; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Cancer; Chromatin; Computational Biology; Computer applications; Data transmission; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Estrogen receptors; Estrogens; Female; Gene expression; Genomes; Humans; Laboratory methods; Medicine; Proteomics; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Systems Biology; Translation
• ISSN: 1939-5094; 1939-005X; 2692-9368
• DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.109

Estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive breast cancer research is an ideal example of how systems biology can be applied to better understand a specific clinical issue. By integrating vast data sets from tumor‐derived expression arrays, genome‐wide transcription factor/chromatin interactions, proteomics and computational analyses, we may better understand the concept of breast cancer development, heterogeneity, and its treatment. Resistance to endocrine treatment, such as anti‐estrogens, often occurs and systems biology may prove to be a valuable asset in tailoring treatment for each patient. In such a multidisciplinary setup, it is essential to try and connect these massive data streams with the known pathological background and cell biology. In this review, we describe the current status of such studies and the challenges that are to be met in order to fully understand the concept of anti‐estrogen resistance from a holistic perspective. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 216–230 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.109 This article is categorized under: Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Cellular Models Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Genetic/Genomic Methods Translational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Translational Medicine