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Metals and Breast Cancer

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Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Metalloestrogens are metals that activate the estrogen receptor in the absence of estradiol. The metalloestrogens fall into two subclasses: metal/metalloid anions and bivalent cationic metals. The metal/metalloid anions include compounds such as arsenite, nitrite, selenite, and vanadate while the bivalent cations include metals such as cadmium, calcium, cobalt, copper, nickel, chromium, lead, mercury, and tin. The best studied metalloestrogen is cadmium. It is a heavy metal and a prevalent environmental contaminant with no known physiological function. This review addresses our current understanding of the mechanism by which cadmium and the bivalent cationic metals activate estrogen receptor-α. The review also summarizes the in vitro and in vivo evidence that cadmium functions as an estrogen and the potential role of cadmium in breast cancer.

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Abbreviations

AF-1:

transactivation function -1

AF-2:

transactivation function -2

Akt:

serine/threonine specific kinase

bw:

body weight

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

ERα:

estrogen receptor-alpha

ERE:

estrogen response element

ERK:

extracellular signal-regulated kinases

GPR30:

G protein-coupled receptor 30

LBD:

ligand binding domain

PR:

progesterone receptor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Celia Byrne

  2. Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA

    Shailaja D. Divekar, Geoffrey B. Storchan & Daniela A. Parodi

  3. Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Washington, DC, USA

    Mary Beth Martin

  4. Georgetown University, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Research Building, 3970 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

    Mary Beth Martin

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  1. Celia Byrne
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Correspondence to Mary Beth Martin.

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Byrne, C., Divekar, S.D., Storchan, G.B. et al. Metals and Breast Cancer. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 18, 63–73 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-013-9273-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-013-9273-9

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