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Review
. 2020 Apr;121(4):2756-2769.
doi: 10.1002/jcb.29515. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Comparison of the roles of estrogens and androgens in breast cancer and prostate cancer

Wen-Jing Liu  1 , Gang Zhao  2 , Chen-Yan Zhang  1 , Chang-Qing Yang  1 , Xiang-Bin Zeng  1 , Jin Li  1 , Kun Zhu  1 , Shi-Qi Zhao  1 , Hui-Meng Lu  1 , Da-Chuan Yin  1 , Sheng-Xiang Lin  3
Affiliations
Review

Comparison of the roles of estrogens and androgens in breast cancer and prostate cancer

Wen-Jing Liu et al. J Cell Biochem. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) and prostate cancer (PC) are the second most common malignant tumors in women and men in western countries, respectively. The risks of death are 14% for BC and 9% for PC. Abnormal estrogen and androgen levels are related to carcinogenesis of the breast and prostate. Estradiol stimulates cancer development in BC. The effect of estrogen on PC is concentration-dependent, and estrogen can regulate androgen production, further affecting PC. Estrogen can also increase the risk of androgen-induced PC. Androgen has dual effects on BC via different metabolic pathways, and the role of the androgen receptor (AR) in BC also depends on cell subtype and downstream target genes. Androgen and AR can stimulate both primary PC and castration-resistant PC. Understanding the mechanisms of the effects of estrogen and androgen on BC and PC may help us to improve curative BC and PC treatment strategies.

Keywords: androgen; breast cancer; estrogen; prostate cancer.

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