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Antiestrogenic therapies proposed to treat solid cancers and multiple myeloma

07-25-2006

Novel antiestrogenic (AE) drug delivery systems might enhance therapeutic efficacy by targeting the tumoral cells of solid cancers and multiple myeloma.

"Estrogens are essential for human health. Their physiological effects are primarily mediated by two types of intracellular estrogen receptors (ER alpha and ER beta) that function as DNA-binding transcription factors. However, estrogens are also involved in the development and progression of breast cancers. Endocrine therapy aims to reduce the availability of the hormone or to counteract its action. This can be achieved by preventing estrogen production or administrating AEs, synthetic drugs belonging to several distinct structural categories," researchers in France reported.

"Selective estrogen receptor modulators (or SERMs) bind ERs but have a mixed agonist/antagonist profile. Selective estrogen receptor downregulators (or SERDs) are pure antiestrogens, acting by decreasing the level of ERs through their ubiquitinylation and subsequent targeting to the proteasome. We review most of the usual antiestrogenic therapies for estrogen-dependent and estrogen-independent solid cancers and present our recent results on the use of AEs against multiple myeloma," explained B. Sola and colleagues, Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Cote Nacre.

The researchers concluded, "In breast cancer treatments, the most commonly used antiestrogen, tamoxifen, has major limitations: side effects due to its partial agonist activity and constitutive or acquired resistance. We propose that novel AE drug delivery systems may enhance the overall beneficial effects by targeting tumoral cells."

Sola and colleagues published their study in Current Molecular Medicine (Antiestrogenic therapies in solid cancers and multiple myeloma. Curr Mol Med, 2006;6(4):359-368).

For additional information, contact B. Sola, Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Cote Nacre, UFR Med, EA 3919, F-14032 Caen, France.

Publisher contact information for the journal Current Molecular Medicine is: Bentham Science Publ Ltd., Executive Ste. Y26, PO Box 7917, Saif Zone, 1200 Br Sharjah, U Arab Emirates.

Keywords: Caen, France, Biotechnology, Breast Cancer, Breast Carcinoma, Drug Delivery, Endocrinology, Estrogen, Hormones, Multiple Myeloma, Oncology, Solid Cancers, Solid Carcinomas, Tamoxifen, Cancer Therapy, Women's Health.

This article was prepared by Cancer Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Cancer Weekly via NewsRx.com.