Hormone-sensitive cancer
a type of cancer dependent on a hormone for growth
A hormone-sensitive cancer, or hormone-dependent cancer, is a type of cancer that is dependent on a hormone for growth and/or survival. Examples include breast cancer, which is dependent on estrogens like estradiol, and prostate cancer, which is dependent on androgens like testosterone.
Hormones can cause some tumors to grow and spread, which are so-called hormone-sensitive or hormone-dependent cancer. If a tumor is hormone-sensitive, it means that there are special proteins called receptors on cells surface. When the hormone binds to a matched receptor, it results in the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Mechanism of carcinogenesis
While tumor initiating event for hormone-related cancers can be varied, the promotion event and subsequent proliferation is driven by a sex hormone. Both endogenous and exogenous hormones, by driving cell proliferation, increased the number of cell divisions and the opportunity for random genetic errors to lead to cancer.
Hormone-sensitive cancer types
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is often hormone responsive, since growth or regression of tumors can often be regulated by appropriate endocrine manipulations. Estrogen and progesterone seem to be main hormones involved in growth of breast cancer.
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer can be affected by estrogen.
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