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Postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer – Clinicopathologic Associations and Molecular Mechanisms

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Mechanisms of Oncogenesis

Part of the book series: Cancer Growth and Progression ((CAGP,volume 12))

Abstract

Breast cancer is the leading malignancy in women with an estimated 178,480 new cases and 40,460 deaths in 2007 in the United States. Although the cause of breast cancer is currently unknown, several molecular pathways have been identified to play a role in breast cancer development and progression. Perhaps the most important pathway involves the estrogen receptor (ER). More than two thirds of breast cancers show ER expression at the time of diagnosis and detection of ER expression is used in making decisions on hormonal therapy for breast cancer. The current paper reviews the potential role and mechanisms of endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones in the development of breast cancer with special focus on the potential role of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The association of HRT use with clinicopathologic tumor features and its effect on tumor cell proliferation, hormone receptor expression and gene expression profile is discussed. The potential role of sex steroid hormones in the prevention of breast cancer is explored.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomic Pathology and Comprehensive Breast Program, Moffitt Cancer and Research Center, Tampa, FL, USA

    Geza Acs

  2. Departments of Oncologic Sciences, Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Geza Acs

  3. Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Michael J. Wagoner

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  1. Research Institute, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center &, Magnolia Drive 12902, Tampa, 33612, USA

    Domenico Coppola

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Acs, G., Wagoner, M.J. (2010). Postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer – Clinicopathologic Associations and Molecular Mechanisms. In: Coppola, D. (eds) Mechanisms of Oncogenesis. Cancer Growth and Progression, vol 12. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3725-1_13

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