The Complex Relationship between BRCA1 and ERα in Hereditary Breast Cancer

Breast cancer 1 ( BRCA1 ) was initially identified as one of the genes conferring genetic predisposition to both breast and ovarian cancer. One of the interesting aspects of BRCA1 -linked cancers is the observed specificity for estrogen-responsive tissues such as breast and ovary. Recent advances in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical cancer research 2009-03, Vol.15 (5), p.1514-1518
Main Authors: GORSKI, Julia J, KENNEDY, Richard D, HOSEY, Alison M, HARKIN, D. Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antineoplastic agents
Biological and medical sciences
BRCA1
breast cancer
estrogen
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Mammary gland diseases
Medical sciences
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Tumors
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Summary:Breast cancer 1 ( BRCA1 ) was initially identified as one of the genes conferring genetic predisposition to both breast and ovarian cancer. One of the interesting aspects of BRCA1 -linked cancers is the observed specificity for estrogen-responsive tissues such as breast and ovary. Recent advances in our understanding of BRCA1 -linked breast cancers have revealed a complex relationship between BRCA1 and estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling. Estrogen stimulation increases expression of BRCA1 at the mRNA and protein level and conversely BRCA1 functions to both induce ER α mRNA expression and act as a negative regulator of ERα signaling. Here, we review the relationship between BRCA1 and ERα and discuss the use of antiestrogen therapies such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of BRCA1 mutation carriers.
ISSN:1078-0432
1557-3265
DOI:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-08-0640