Hormone signaling via androgen receptor affects breast cancer and prostate cancer in a male patient: A case report
Abstract Background Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare, accounting for only around 1% of all breast cancers. Most MBCs are hormone-driven. Not only the estrogen receptor (ER), but also other steroid hormone receptors, including the androgen receptor (AR) and progesterone receptor (PgR) are expressed i...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Cancer |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-018-5216-6 |
| _version_ | 1811285955863117824 |
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| author | Haruko Takuwa Wakako Tsuji Masayuki Shintaku Fumiaki Yotsumoto |
| author_facet | Haruko Takuwa Wakako Tsuji Masayuki Shintaku Fumiaki Yotsumoto |
| author_sort | Haruko Takuwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare, accounting for only around 1% of all breast cancers. Most MBCs are hormone-driven. Not only the estrogen receptor (ER), but also other steroid hormone receptors, including the androgen receptor (AR) and progesterone receptor (PgR) are expressed in MBC. AR activation in breast cancer cells facilitates downstream gene expression that drives tumorigenesis in a similar manner to ER. AR-mediated signalling works paradoxically in breast cancer and prostate cancer, and cancer cells expressing the AR are endocrine-sensitive. Case presentation We describe a case of double cancer of MBC and prostate cancer. A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a lump in his left breast in the 1990s. The patient had cT3N3M0, stage IIIC breast cancer, and underwent a mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. Though adjuvant chemotherapy was administered, he experienced pleural metastasis 2 months after the surgery. Two years after the recurrence during endocrine therapy with oral 5-fluorouracil, he complained of frequent urination. Radiological and histological examinations revealed that the patient had cT3N0M0, stage III primary prostate cancer with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 40.5 ng/mL. Germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes were not tested. He received multidisciplinary, continuous therapy for both breast and prostate cancer; however, 5 and 3 years after each diagnosis, respectively, he experienced a deep vein thrombosis in his right leg related to the endocrine therapy. Liver metastasis progressed after he stopped breast cancer therapy. However, long-term disease control had been achieved with anti-estrogen therapy for breast cancer and estrogen replacement therapy for prostate cancer. Conclusions Several studies have shown that estrogen exposure after estrogen depletion likely causes apoptosis of ER-positive breast cancer cells. Our findings indicate that this also applies to the environment in male body. AR dominant signaling prevents breast cancer recurrence and metastasis, especially in MBC patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:52:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf697509613a49759d6c4989c71edc9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2407 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:52:38Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cancer |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf697509613a49759d6c4989c71edc9a2022-12-22T03:05:48ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072018-12-011811610.1186/s12885-018-5216-6Hormone signaling via androgen receptor affects breast cancer and prostate cancer in a male patient: A case reportHaruko Takuwa0Wakako Tsuji1Masayuki Shintaku2Fumiaki Yotsumoto3Department of Breast Surgery, Shiga General HospitalDepartment of Breast Surgery, Shiga General HospitalDepartment of Breast Surgery, Shiga General HospitalDepartment of Breast Surgery, Shiga General HospitalAbstract Background Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare, accounting for only around 1% of all breast cancers. Most MBCs are hormone-driven. Not only the estrogen receptor (ER), but also other steroid hormone receptors, including the androgen receptor (AR) and progesterone receptor (PgR) are expressed in MBC. AR activation in breast cancer cells facilitates downstream gene expression that drives tumorigenesis in a similar manner to ER. AR-mediated signalling works paradoxically in breast cancer and prostate cancer, and cancer cells expressing the AR are endocrine-sensitive. Case presentation We describe a case of double cancer of MBC and prostate cancer. A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a lump in his left breast in the 1990s. The patient had cT3N3M0, stage IIIC breast cancer, and underwent a mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. Though adjuvant chemotherapy was administered, he experienced pleural metastasis 2 months after the surgery. Two years after the recurrence during endocrine therapy with oral 5-fluorouracil, he complained of frequent urination. Radiological and histological examinations revealed that the patient had cT3N0M0, stage III primary prostate cancer with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 40.5 ng/mL. Germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes were not tested. He received multidisciplinary, continuous therapy for both breast and prostate cancer; however, 5 and 3 years after each diagnosis, respectively, he experienced a deep vein thrombosis in his right leg related to the endocrine therapy. Liver metastasis progressed after he stopped breast cancer therapy. However, long-term disease control had been achieved with anti-estrogen therapy for breast cancer and estrogen replacement therapy for prostate cancer. Conclusions Several studies have shown that estrogen exposure after estrogen depletion likely causes apoptosis of ER-positive breast cancer cells. Our findings indicate that this also applies to the environment in male body. AR dominant signaling prevents breast cancer recurrence and metastasis, especially in MBC patients.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-018-5216-6Androgen receptorBRCA mutationestrogen receptormale breast cancerprostate cancer |
| spellingShingle | Haruko Takuwa Wakako Tsuji Masayuki Shintaku Fumiaki Yotsumoto Hormone signaling via androgen receptor affects breast cancer and prostate cancer in a male patient: A case report BMC Cancer Androgen receptor BRCA mutation estrogen receptor male breast cancer prostate cancer |
| title | Hormone signaling via androgen receptor affects breast cancer and prostate cancer in a male patient: A case report |
| title_full | Hormone signaling via androgen receptor affects breast cancer and prostate cancer in a male patient: A case report |
| title_fullStr | Hormone signaling via androgen receptor affects breast cancer and prostate cancer in a male patient: A case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hormone signaling via androgen receptor affects breast cancer and prostate cancer in a male patient: A case report |
| title_short | Hormone signaling via androgen receptor affects breast cancer and prostate cancer in a male patient: A case report |
| title_sort | hormone signaling via androgen receptor affects breast cancer and prostate cancer in a male patient a case report |
| topic | Androgen receptor BRCA mutation estrogen receptor male breast cancer prostate cancer |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-018-5216-6 |
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