Affiliations: Breast Center, Department of Medicine and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Adrian V. Lee, Ph.D., Breast Center- Room N1110, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, MS:600 Houston, TX 77030, USA. Tel.: +1 713 798 1624; Fax: +1 713 798 1659; E-mail: avlee@breastcenter.tmc.edu
Abstract: Both estrogen and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) are critical for normal mammary gland development, but are also implicated in breast cancer development and progression. Evidence that the signaling pathways utilized by these hormones interact has been shown in normal and tumorigenic cell lines, xenograft models, and breast cancer tissue. Analysis of the mechanism of interaction between estrogen and IGF-I has revealed multiple levels of cross-talk with bi-directional regulation of both pathways. Importantly, this bi-directional regulation is often in a positive manner and the resulting synergism noted between these two potent mitogens may be a critical element in the progression of breast cancer. While targeting of the estrogen receptor has shown success in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, it is hoped that targeting of the IGF signaling pathway will yield similar beneficial results and that inhibitors of IGF signaling may be particularly useful in combination with current antiestrogen therapies. This review will focus on the evidence indicating cross-talk between estrogen and IGF-I and reveal some of the complex mechanisms that link these important pathways in breast cancer.
