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Tien AH, Sadar MD. Treatments Targeting the Androgen Receptor and Its Splice Variants in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1817. [PMID: 38339092 PMCID: PMC10855698 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a major cause of death worldwide. The complexity of endocrine regulation in breast cancer may allow the cancer cells to escape from a particular treatment and result in resistant and aggressive disease. These breast cancers usually have fewer treatment options. Targeted therapies for cancer patients may offer fewer adverse side effects because of specificity compared to conventional chemotherapy. Signaling pathways of nuclear receptors, such as the estrogen receptor (ER), have been intensively studied and used as therapeutic targets. Recently, the role of the androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancer is gaining greater attention as a therapeutic target and as a prognostic biomarker. The expression of constitutively active truncated AR splice variants in breast cancer is a possible mechanism contributing to treatment resistance. Therefore, targeting both the full-length AR and AR variants, either through the activation or suppression of AR function, depending on the status of the ER, progesterone receptor, or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, may provide additional treatment options. Studies targeting AR in combination with other treatment strategies are ongoing in clinical trials. The determination of the status of nuclear receptors to classify and identify patient subgroups will facilitate optimized and targeted combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy H. Tien
- Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Marianne D. Sadar
- Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z7, Canada
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Thériault JF, Poirier D, Lin SX. The multi-specific human 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7: Non-competitive inhibitors can target different catalyses to facilitate breast cancer treatment. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 214:105963. [PMID: 34400276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.105963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Human 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7 (17β-HSD7), a special multifunctional enzyme, activates the estrogen estrone while inactivating the potent androgen dihydrotestosterone. Thus, this enzyme has become an ideal target for hormone-dependent breast cancer treatment, as its inhibition leads to estradiol reduction and dihydrotestosterone restoration. However, a particular concern has arisen related to an additional role in cholesterol biosynthesis, as inhibition of the enzyme may lead to undesirable side effects. Our findings demonstrate that the available enzyme inhibitors are non-competitive. Among these, many such as INH81, are specific toward sex-hormone conversion, whereas others represented by 4-bromo-ethynylestradiol, are more specific for zymosterone reduction occurring during cholesterol biosynthesis. The binding of non-competitive inhibitors does not affect the substrate binding on the enzyme. This is the first demonstration of non-competitive inhibitors acting selectively on different catalyses, thereby facilitating inhibitor uses for breast cancer treatment. We aim to quickly communicate the novel results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Francois Thériault
- Endocrinology and Nephrology, CHU de Quebec-Research Center (CHUL), 2705 Boulevard Laurier, Québec City, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Québec City, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada; Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l'Université Laval, 9, rue McMahon, Québec City, Québec, G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Donald Poirier
- Endocrinology and Nephrology, CHU de Quebec-Research Center (CHUL), 2705 Boulevard Laurier, Québec City, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Québec City, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada; Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l'Université Laval, 9, rue McMahon, Québec City, Québec, G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Sheng-Xiang Lin
- Endocrinology and Nephrology, CHU de Quebec-Research Center (CHUL), 2705 Boulevard Laurier, Québec City, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Québec City, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada; Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l'Université Laval, 9, rue McMahon, Québec City, Québec, G1R 3S3, Canada.
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Audet-Walsh É, Wang XQ, Lin SX. Using Omics to better understand steroid biosynthesis, metabolism, and functions. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 202:105686. [PMID: 32437965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2020.105686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Étienne Audet-Walsh
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Endocrinology - Nephrology Research Axis, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche sur le cancer (CRC), Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
| | - Xiao Qiang Wang
- Department of Pathology, Peking University Third Hospital, Haidian District, 100091 Beijing, China
| | - Sheng-Xiang Lin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Endocrinology - Nephrology Research Axis, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche sur le cancer (CRC), Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
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