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
Affiliations
Khayry Al-Shami
Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan
Sajeda Awadi
Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan
Almu'atasim Khamees
Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan; Department of General Surgery, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, 11941, Jordan
Ahmad Malek Alsheikh
Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan
Sumaiya Al-Sharif
Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan
Raneem Ala’ Bereshy
Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan
Sharaf F. Al-Eitan
Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan
Sajedah H. Banikhaled
Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan
Ahmad R. Al-Qudimat
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar; Surgical Research Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
Raed M. Al-Zoubi
Surgical Research Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar; Department of Chemistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; Corresponding author. Surgical Research Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Mazhar Salim Al Zoubi
Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, 21163, Irbid, Jordan
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.
