It is known that exposure to estrogens affects the pathophysiology of breast cancer. The key role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the regulation of female steroid hormone metabolism raises the question of whether polymorphisms in its receptor, GnRHR, might influence breast cancer risk. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5'-regulatory region of the GnRHR gene in a total of 565 women, 254 women with breast cancer and 311 women without any malignancy by allele-specific PCR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe actual predictive value of oestrogen receptor (ER) beta for treatment decisions in breast cancer is still unclear. Retrospective studies using preoperative systemic therapy (PST) revealed that chemotherapy but also endocrine therapy can lead to alterations in expression levels of ERalpha and progesterone receptor (PR). The main purpose of this study was to compare ERbeta expression levels before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy or endocrine therapy and to explore a possible predictive value of ERbeta.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe expression of the estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) has been shown to play an important role in breast cancer. There is emerging hope that ERbeta and its isoforms will be used as prognostic markers or as therapeutic targets in the clinical management of breast cancer. Many studies indicate that ERbeta is down regulated during carcinogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF