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Involvement of estrogen receptors in prostatic diseases
Author(s) -
Kawashima Hidenori,
Nakatani Tatsuya
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1442-2042
pISSN - 0919-8172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2012.02987.x
Subject(s) - estrogen receptor , medicine , estrogen , prostate cancer , estrogen receptor beta , receptor , androgen receptor , prostate , cancer research , estrogen receptor alpha , hyperplasia , cancer , endocrinology , breast cancer
Abstract Accumulating evidence shows that estrogens participate in the pathogenesis and development of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer by activating estrogen receptor α. In contrast, estrogen receptor β is involved in the differentiation and maturation of prostatic epithelial cells, and thus possesses antitumor effects in prostate cancer. However, the natural ligands of estrogen receptor β are not fully understood, and its mode of action according to its ligands and the binding sites located in the promoter regions of downstream genes remains to be elucidated. Here, we review recent experimental investigations of estrogen receptors and their urological relevance. Estrogen receptor‐mediated signaling in the prostate is essential together with the androgen receptor‐mediated pathway, providing a new therapeutic target for prostatic diseases.