About this Research Topic

Background

Over the years, breast cancer has remained a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. The estrogen receptors (ERs), including cytosolic or nuclear estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ and membrane subpopulations and the G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), are implicated in the occurrence and development of breast cancer. Research on breast cancer consistently finds that elevated estrogen levels increase the risk of breast cancer. Evidence suggests that genotoxic estrogen metabolites and non-genomic and transcriptional signal transduction mediated by estrogen signaling can affect the cell proliferation and apoptosis of breast tissue. Targeted hormone therapies that block estrogen or ER action have significantly improved outcomes for ER+ breast cancer patients, making them the standard of care. It is of great significance to further investigate the role of ER in the pathogenesis and great potential treatment strategies.

The purpose of this Research Topic is to explore the role of estrogen receptors, including both ER and GPER, in breast cancer pathogenesis and treatment. We aim to encourage submissions that investigate novel therapeutic approaches targeting ER/GPER in breast cancer, as well as studies that investigate the mechanisms underlying ER/GPER-mediated breast cancer development and progression.

Specifically, manuscripts focusing on the following subtopics are highly welcome:
● GPER expression and regulation in breast cancer: to elucidate the mechanisms of GPER expression and regulation in breast cancer cells, including genetic and epigenetic factors that influence GPER expression.
● GPER signaling in breast cancer progression: to investigate the role of GPER signaling in breast cancer development, progression, and metastasis, including the interaction with other signaling pathways and its effects on tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis.
● Therapeutic potential of GPER in breast cancer: to evaluate the therapeutic strategies targeting GPER in breast cancer treatment, including the development of novel drugs and delivery systems that can specifically target GPER or the signaling pathway.
● GPER as a biomarker in breast cancer: to develop GPER as a biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of response to treatment, including its expression levels in tumor tissues and potential correlation with clinical outcomes.
● The role of GPER in breast cancer treatment resistance to hormone therapy: to examine the mechanism of resistance to hormone therapy in breast cancer patients and the role of GPER in this process, including the interaction with other hormone receptors and the impact on treatment response.

Keywords: estrogen receptor, breast cancer, pathogenesis, treatment, hormone therapy

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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