Journal article

Deciphering the divergent roles of progestogens in breast cancer

JS Carroll, TE Hickey, GA Tarulli, M Williams, WD Tilley

Nature Reviews Cancer | NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP | Published : 2017

Abstract

Most breast cancers are driven by oestrogen receptor-α. Anti-oestrogenic drugs are the standard treatment for these breast cancers; however, treatment resistance is common, necessitating new therapeutic strategies. Recent preclinical and historical clinical studies support the use of progestogens to activate the progesterone receptor (PR) in breast cancers. However, widespread controversy exists regarding the role of progestogens in this disease, hindering the clinical implementation of PR-targeted therapies. Herein, we present and discuss data at the root of this controversy and clarify the confusion and misinterpretations that have consequently arisen. We then present our view on how proge..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Horizon 2020 Framework Programme


Funding Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of the University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK and Hutchison Whampoa Limited. J.S.C is supported by a European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator grant and a Komen Scholar Award. The work of the authors is supported by funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (ID 1008349 to W.D.T. and T.E.H.; ID 1084416 to W.D.T., T.E.H. and J.S.C.); Cancer Australia/National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia (ID 1043497 to W.D.T., T.E.H. and J.S.C.; ID 1107170 to W.D.T., T.E.H. and J.S.C.); the National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia (PS-15-041 to W D.T. and G.A.T.); and an unrestricted grant from GTx (W.D.T. and T.E.H.). T.E.H held a Fellowship Award from the US Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP: #W81XWH-11-1-0592) and currently is supported by a Florey Career Development Fellowship from the Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Foundation.