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Master of Public Health

Genomic-Epidemiologic Evidence that Estrogens Promote Breast Cancer Development.

AUTHORS

Parl FF , Crooke PS , Plummer WD , Dupont WD , . Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology. 2018 5 22; ().
  • NIHMSID: 9200608

ABSTRACT

Estrogens are a prime risk factor for breast cancer yet their causal relation to tumor formation remains uncertain. A recent study of 560 breast cancers identified 82 genes with 916 point mutations as drivers in the genesis of this malignancy. Since estrogens play a major role in breast cancer development and are also known to regulate the expression of numerous genes, we hypothesize that the 82 driver genes are likely to be influenced by estrogens, such as 17ß-estradiol (E2), and the estrogen receptor, ESR1 (ERα). Since different types of tumors are characterized by unique sets of cancer driver genes, we also argue that the fraction of driver genes regulated by E2-ESR1 is lower in malignancies not associated with estrogens, e.g., acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Estrogens are a prime risk factor for breast cancer yet their causal relation to tumor formation remains uncertain. A recent study of 560 breast cancers identified 82 genes with 916 point mutations as drivers in the genesis of this malignancy. Since estrogens play a major role in breast cancer development and are also known to regulate the expression of numerous genes, we hypothesize that the 82 driver genes are likely to be influenced by estrogens, such as 17ß-estradiol (E2), and the estrogen receptor, ESR1 (ERα). Since different types of tumors are characterized by unique sets of cancer driver genes, we also argue that the fraction of driver genes regulated by E2-ESR1 is lower in malignancies not associated with estrogens, e.g., acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

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