ERα-targeted endocrine therapy, resistance and the role of GPER.


FULLTEXT
Published:
09.14.2019
|
Last Revised:
09.23.2019
PMID:
31518595
Steroids
Journal Article

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States. Electronic address: eprossnitz@salud.unm.edu.

Abstract

Endocrine therapy is an effective option for the treatment of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancers. Unfortunately, a large fraction of women relapse with endocrine-resistant tumors. The presence of constitutively active ERα mutants, found in a subset of relapse tumors, is thought to be an important endocrine resistance mechanism and has prompted the search for more effective anti-hormone drugs that can effectively inhibit these mutant versions of the receptor. The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is also thought to contribute to the development of endocrine resistance, in part, due to its activation by clinically used selective estrogen receptor modulators and downregulators (SERMs/SERDs). Therefore, next-generation drugs should be screened for potential activity towards GPER. Here, we highlight the need for truly ERα-selective SERMs and SERDs that do not cross-react with GPER for the treatment of ERα-positive breast cancers.

GrantID: P20 GM121176, Acronym: GM, Agency: NIGMS NIH HHS, Country: United States | GrantID: P30 CA118100, Acronym: CA, Agency: NCI NIH HHS, Country: United States | GrantID: R01 CA163890, Acronym: CA, Agency: NCI NIH HHS, Country: United States | GrantID: R01 CA194496, Acronym: CA, Agency: NCI NIH HHS, Country: United States