Estrogen Receptor α-Negative Breast Cancer: Pathology and Genetics for Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Dear Colleagues,

Most breast cancers are estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive, and the blockage of estrogen synthesis and its signaling is an important therapeutic strategy. On the other hand, breast cancers without ERα are associated with a worse prognosis than those with ERα. These ERα-negative breast cancers include triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks ERα, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2). Currently available anti-estrogen therapies and HER-2 targeted therapies are not effective in treating TNBC. For treating ERα-negative breast cancer, chemotherapy and molecular-targeted drugs are often combined, and immune checkpoint inhibitors are expected to be effective in TNBC. Other hormone receptors, such as the androgen and glucocorticoid receptors, are expressed in ERα-negative breast cancer, and hormone therapies may be effective in such incidences. It is also well known that germline BRCA1/2 mutations are involved in the pathogenesis of ER-negative and ER-positive breast cancer. However, it is also true that many unknown items remain, such as the pathological characteristics, genetic background, and immunological characteristics of ERα-negative breast cancer.

This special issue of the International Journal of Molecular Science, entitled “Estrogen Receptor α-Negative Breast Cancer: Pathology and Genetics for Novel Therapeutic Approaches”, focuses on steroid and peptide hormone signaling, interactions with stromal cells such as immune cells, the involvement of cytokine signaling, chemotherapy resistance mechanisms, elucidation of genetic background and treatment, and so on. We also very much would like to welcome postdocs, students, and young researchers to our journal.

Dr. Yasuhiro Miki
Dr. Erina Iwabuchi
Guest Editors

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• estrogen receptor alpha
• ERα
• breast cancer