The roles of anti-Müllerian hormone in breast cancer

Endocr Relat Cancer. 2023 Aug 14;30(10):e230060. doi: 10.1530/ERC-23-0060. Print 2023 Oct 1.

Abstract

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced and secreted by granulosa cells of growing follicles, and its main role is to inhibit the recruitment of primordial follicles, reduce the sensitivity of follicles to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and regulate FSH-dependent preantral follicle growth. It has become an effective indicator of ovarian reserve in clinical practice. Research on AMH and its receptors in recent years has led to a better understanding of its role in breast cancer. AMH specifically binds to anti-Müllerian hormone receptor II (AMHRII) to activate downstream pathways and regulate gene transcription. Since AMHRII is expressed in breast cancer cells and triggers apoptosis, AMH/AMHRII may play an important role in the occurrence, treatment, and prognosis of breast cancer, which needs further research. The AMH level is a potent predictor of ovarian function after chemotherapy in premenopausal breast cancer patients older than 35 years, either for ovarian function injury or ovarian function recovery. Moreover, AMHRII has the potential to be a new marker for the molecular typing of breast cancer and a new target for breast cancer treatment, which may be a link in the downstream pathway after TP53 mutation.

Keywords: anti-Müllerian hormone; anti-Müllerian hormone receptor II; breast cancer; hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis; ovarian function.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone* / genetics
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone* / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / genetics
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / metabolism
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / pharmacology
  • Granulosa Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Follicle / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone