Molecular Regulation of Androgen Receptors in Major Female Reproductive System Cancers

There are three main types of cancer in the female reproductive system, specifically ovarian cancer (OVCA), endometrial cancer (EC), and cervical cancer (CC). They are common malignant tumors in women worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, androgen receptors (ARs) have been found to be closely related to the occurrence, progression, prognosis, and drug resistance of these three types of tumors. This paper summarizes current views on the role of AR in female reproductive system cancer, the associations between female reproductive system cancers and AR expression and polymorphisms. AR regulates the downstream target genes transcriptional activity and the expression via interacting with coactivators/corepressors and upstream/downstream regulators and through the gene transcription mechanism of classical A/AR signaling or non-classical AR signaling, involving a large number of regulatory factors and signaling pathways. ARs take part in the processes of cancer cell proliferation, migration/invasion, cancer cell stemness, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. These findings suggest that the AR and related regulators could target the treatment of female reproductive system cancer.

Automated summary

This article summarizes the role of androgen receptors in female reproductive system cancers and their associations with cancer-related expression and polymorphisms. The study findings suggest that androgen receptors play a role in cancer cell proliferation, migration, cancer cell stemness, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance, indicating their potential as therapeutic targets for female reproductive system cancers.