Male Hormone Blockage Provides Alternative Route for Breast Cancer Eradication

A research carried out by the University of Colorado Cancer Center has established the link between male sex hormones and breast cancer development. It was recently found out that breast cancer cells have receptors for the male hormone androgen, which serve as fodder for the cancer. Preliminary laboratory trials have shown that using drugs that block the said receptors was effective in reducing the growth of the breast cancer.

New discovery: Androgen receptors on breast cancer cells

Advanced imaging techniques have located receptors on cancerous cells. These receptors are sites on the cancer cells that encourage certain proteins and hormones to bind with the cells. These substances provide nourishment for the abnormal growth and are targets of cancer elimination therapies. In the case of the University of Colorado’s research, it was discovered that there are also androgen-specific receptors for male sex hormones. This is a relatively new discovery because only the female sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and the gene HER2 were previously known to bind with cancer cells’ receptor sites.

The discovery’s significance

According to the American Association for Cancer Research, blocking these receptors via receptor antagonizing medication may curtail the progression of the disease by starving the cancer cells of nourishment.

Dr. Jennifer Richer and her team mentions that majority of breast cancer incidences involve androgen receptors, thus drugs that interfere with them may yield significant results. These breast cancers with androgen receptors comprise 77% of cancers. Other cancers have receptor sites for estrogen, which makes up 88% of the distribution, HER2 with 59%, and around 25% without receptor sites. Some of these cancers have receptors for both androgen and estrogen. These are the cancer types that may receive the biggest benefit from anti androgen drug medication, though Dr. Richer maintains that all major subtypes of breast cancer may be treated with the drug.

Dr. Richer elaborates that cancers with an affinity for estrogen may develop a resistance towards estrogen receptor site blockers. This side effect may be counteracted by the introduction of androgen receptor site blockers, and this blockage halts the breast cancer’s proliferation.

Breast cancer is traditionally treated by Tamoxifen, which obstructs estrogen receptor sites. Dr. Richer says that patients who do not respond well to Tamoxifen therapy, such as those with allergies to the drug or those who have developed drug resistance and relapses, may fare better with anti androgen therapy. Enzalutamide is an example of an anti-androgen drug. This may become a routine drug treatment for breast cancer once its usage is approved by the medical industry.

Current status of the treatment

Dr. Richer’s research group has analyzed cancer data and noted that anti-estrogen treated breast cancer cells have switched to feeding off androgen stores within the person’s body in order to survive. By also blocking the androgen supply through medication, the cells are further weakened and they became more vulnerable to other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

These experiments were done only in laboratories and have not been implemented among hospitals and cancer treatment centers. Cancer research groups and other associations are currently working to bring the new treatment into mainstream medicine.

Although effective for prostate cancer, further research will ensue prior to the approval of anti androgen therapies for breast cancer.