Estrogens and the risk of breast cancer: A narrative review of literature

Khayry Al-Shami; Sajeda Awadi; Almu'atasim Khamees; Ahmad Malek Alsheikh; Sumaiya Al-Sharif; Raneem Ala' Bereshy; Sharaf F Al-Eitan; Sajedah H Banikhaled; Ahmad R Al-Qudimat; Raed M Al-Zoubi; Mazhar Salim Al Zoubi

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20224

Estrogens and the risk of breast cancer: A narrative review of literature

Heliyon. 2023 Sep 17;9(9):e20224. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20224. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan.
² Department of General Surgery, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, 11941, Jordan.
³ Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar.
⁴ Surgical Research Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
⁵ Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan.

Abstract

In female mammals, the development and regulation of the reproductive system and non-reproductive system are significantly influenced by estrogens (oestrogens). In addition, lipid metabolism is another physiological role of estrogens. Estrogens act through different types of receptors to introduce signals to the target cell by affecting many estrogen response elements. Breast cancer is considered mostly a hormone-dependent disease. Approximately 70% of breast cancers express progesterone receptors and/or estrogen receptors, and they are a good marker for cancer prognosis. This review will discuss estrogen metabolism and the interaction of estrogen metabolites with breast cancer. The carcinogenic role of estrogen is discussed in light of both conventional and atypical cancers susceptible to hormones, such as prostate, endometrial, and lung cancer, as we examine how estrogen contributes to the formation and activation of breast cancer. In addition, this review will discuss other factors that can be associated with estrogen-driven breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; ER; Estrogen; Oestrogen; Risk.

Publication types

Review