Androgen upregulates EGFR in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is more common in males than females and it has been shown that androgen receptor (AR) signalling may play a part in its progression. It is well known that the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) leads to bladder cancer cell growth; however, the role that AR plays in the modulation of the EGFR pathway is unclear. Zheng and colleagues have found that activation of AR upregulates the expression of EGFR in bladder cancer cells, with androgen promoting the phosphorylation of EGFR and its downstream proteins. They suggest that AR functions as a transcription factor. This is the first study to show a strong relationship between AR status and tumour progression. Zheng et al. (2011) Endocrine-Related Cancer 18 451-464.

Read the full article at: DOI:10.1530/ERC-11-0010.