Progestogens and risk of breast cancer: a link between bone and breast?

Abstract

This article reviews the data supporting the role of receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa (RANK) and its ligand, RANKL, in progestogen-induced breast cancer. Both experimental and clinical studies have been included. The expression of both RANK and RANKL has been described in epithelial cells of both mice and humans. Experiments of gain and loss of function in mice have shown that RANK/RANKL mediate alveologenesis during pregnancy or the estrous cycle. Moreover, the participation of the RANK/RANKL has been detected in models of breast carcinogenesis associated with progestogens-like medroxyprogesterone acetate. Recent clinical studies have found that the expression of RANK is associated with parameters of aggressiveness of the tumor.

Chinese abstract

本文综述了孕激素诱发乳腺癌中核因子-κβ受体活化因子(RANK)和核因子-κβ受体活化因子配体（RANKL）起作用的数据支持。实验和临床研究都已包括在内。在人和小鼠的上皮细胞都有RANK和RANKL 表达的描述。实验中小鼠功能的损益显示了RANK/RANKL对小鼠孕期牙槽产生和发情周期的调节。此外，在与孕激素（如醋酸甲羟孕酮）有关的乳腺癌模型中已经发现了RANK/RANKL的参与。近期的临床研究发现RANK的表达与肿瘤的侵袭性有关。

• Breast cancer
• human
• mice
• progestogens
• RANK
• RANKL

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. This work was supported by the grant PI12/02775 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Madrid, Spain, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).