Steroid metabolism in breast cancer: Where are we and what are we missing?

Publication date: Available online 17 May 2017
Source:Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Author(s): Donita Africander, Karl-Heinz Storbeck
It is well-known that breast cancer is hormone-dependent and that steroid hormones exert their mitogenic effects by binding to estrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors. Vital to our understanding and treatment of this malignancy, is the local metabolism of steroid hormones in breast cancer tissue. This review summarises our current knowledge on steroid producing pathways in the adrenal, ovary and breast, while focussing on the availability of specific circulating hormone precursors and steroidogenic enzymes involved in the local synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones in the breast. Consequently, we highlight alternate pathways that may be instrumental in the etiology of breast cancer.



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