Androgen receptors: unclear ubiquitious mechanism or the missing key in the triple–negative breast cancer?

Abstract

Androgen receptors (AR) are ligand-dependent nuclear transcription factors. These are steroid receptors, similar to estrogen receptors (ER). They are expressed in numerous cells in the body, with different constructive roles. AR signalling can be involved in the development of a variety of human malignant tumors, such as prostate cancer, bladder, liver, salivary glands, kidney, lung, melanoma, sarcoma, breast cancer, and many others. The role of AR is most clear and today best explained in prostate cancer. The mechanism of AR signalling in other human epithelial tumors is still quite unclear and the effects are different to entirely opposite in different tumors. In breast cancer, AR are the most commonly expressed receptors, but still with an incompletely clear role, prognostic and predictive significance. The expression of AR in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly variable. Despite the marked differences in the results of the various analyzes, they appear to have a beneficial effect on the prognosis and are potentially the target of antihormone therapy for treatment of TNBC in the future.

Keywords

• androgen receptors
• prostate cancer
• breast cancer
• triple–negative breast cancer