Targeting the androgen receptor in prostate and breast cancer: several new agents in development

    1. Tiffany A Traina1,3
    1. 1Breast Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 East 66th Street, New York, New York 10065, USA
      2Genitourinary Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
      3Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
    1. Correspondence should be addressed to T A Traina; Email: trainat{at}mskcc.org

    Abstract

    Prostate cancer (PCa) and breast cancer (BCa) share similarities as hormone-sensitive cancers with a wide heterogeneity of both phenotype and biology. The androgen receptor (AR) is a hormone receptor involved in both benign and malignant processes. Targeting androgen synthesis and the AR pathway has been and remains central to PCa therapy. Recently, there has been increased interest in the role of the AR in BCa development and growth, with results indicating AR co-expression with estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptors, across all intrinsic subtypes of BCa. Targeting the AR axis is an evolving field with novel therapies in development which may ultimately be applicable to both tumor types. In this review, we offer an overview of available agents which target the AR axis in both PCa and BCa and provide insights into the novel drugs in development for targeting this signaling pathway.

    Keywords
    • Revision received 24 February 2015
    • Accepted 26 February 2015
    • Made available online as an Accepted Preprint 26 February 2015
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