Biological roles and clinical significance of estrogen and androgen receptors in head and neck cancers

Chunhong Qin; Yan Lu; Huimin Zhang; Zhe Zhang; Wei Xu; Shuxin Wen; Wei Gao; Yongyan Wu

doi:10.7150/jca.66707

Biological roles and clinical significance of estrogen and androgen receptors in head and neck cancers

J Cancer. 2022 Apr 4;13(7):2189-2199. doi: 10.7150/jca.66707. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Chunhong Qin^{1

2}, Yan Lu^{2

3}, Huimin Zhang², Zhe Zhang^{2

4}, Wei Xu⁵, Shuxin Wen⁶, Wei Gao^{7

2

5}, Yongyan Wu^{7

1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Basic Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China.
² Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China.
³ Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, The First Hospital, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, China.
⁴ Shanxi Eye Hospital, Taiyuan 030002, Shanxi, China.
⁵ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250022, Shandong, China.
⁶ Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan 030032, Shanxi, China.
⁷ General Hospital, Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China.

Abstract

Head and neck cancers (HNC) include malignant tumors that grow in and around the mouth, larynx, throat, sinuses, nose, and salivary glands. Accumulating evidence in malignancies suggests the aberrant expressions of the estrogen receptor (ER) and the androgen receptor (AR) in HNC, such as in laryngeal cancer and cancer of the salivary gland. Moreover, the signaling pathways involving these receptors that mediate tumorigenesis, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion have been elucidated. This review summarizes the roles of ER and AR with the putative signaling pathways involved in HNC. We also discuss the potential application of ER- and AR-related therapies in HNC. However, most of the mechanisms underlying AR and ER involvement in the development of HNC remain elusive and warrant further studies. A comprehensive understanding of the functional roles and mechanisms of action of AR and ER in HNC will facilitate the development of better therapeutic strategies for this disease. Overall, studies on AR and ER provide a promising potential for the diagnosis and treatment of HNC in the future.

Keywords: Androgen receptor; Biomarker; Cancer treatment; Estrogen receptor; Head and neck cancer; Molecular target.

Publication types

Review