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Estrogens are a family of related molecules that stimulate the development and maintenance of female characteristics and sexual reproduction.

The natural estrogens produced by women are steroid molecules, which means that they are derived from a particular type of molecular skeleton containing four rings of carbon atoms, giving the shape shown here. The most prevalent forms of human estrogen are estradiol and estrone. Both are produced and secreted by the ovaries, although estrone is also made in the adrenal glands and other organs.

Early exposure to BPA increases risk for prostate cancer in human prostate tissue

Early exposure to BPA (bisphenol A) - an additive commonly found in plastic water bottles and soup can liners - causes an increased cancer risk in an animal model of human prostate cancer, according to University of Illinois at Chicago researcher Gail Prins. [More]
Bazedoxifene used for treating osteoporosis stops growth of breast cancer cells

Bazedoxifene used for treating osteoporosis stops growth of breast cancer cells

A drug approved in Europe to treat osteoporosis has now been shown to stop the growth of breast cancer cells, even in cancers that have become resistant to current targeted therapies, according to a Duke Cancer Institute study. [More]
European Commission amends marketing authorisation for Celgene's REVLIMID

European Commission amends marketing authorisation for Celgene's REVLIMID

Celgene International Sàrl was today notified that the European Commission has amended the marketing authorisation for REVLIMID. This decision means that REVLIMID is now approved to treat patients with transfusion-dependent anaemia due to low or intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes associated with an isolated deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality when other therapeutic options are insufficient or inadequate. [More]

Genetic variations may help predict breast cancer risk in women who receive preventive therapy

Newly discovered genetic variations may help predict breast cancer risk in women who receive preventive breast cancer therapy with the selective estrogen receptor modulator drugs tamoxifen and raloxifene, a Mayo Clinic-led study has found. The study is published in the journal Cancer Discovery. [More]

Findings provide basis for reinvigoration of research efforts in breast cancer prevention

Genetic variations, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, in or near the genes ZNF423 and CTSO were associated with breast cancer risk among women who underwent prevention therapy with tamoxifen and raloxifene, according to data published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. [More]

Poor sleep may be most harmful to women with coronary heart disease, study finds

Many women get too little sleep, despite considerable evidence showing the importance of sleep to overall health. Now a new UC San Francisco study has discovered another reason why inadequate sleep may be harmful, especially to women and their hearts. [More]
Study suggests modulation of "enhancer-directed RNAs" can alter gene expression in living cells

Study suggests modulation of "enhancer-directed RNAs" can alter gene expression in living cells

In a pair of distinct but complementary papers, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and colleagues illuminate the functional importance of a relatively new class of RNA molecules. [More]
Treatment can restore satisfying sex life post menopause

Treatment can restore satisfying sex life post menopause

A satisfying sex life is an important contributor to older adults' quality of life, but the sexual pain that can come after menopause can rob women and their partners of that satisfaction. Treatment can help restore it, shows a global survey including some 1,000 middle-aged North American men and women, published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). [More]

New research examines treatment outcomes of HIV-positive transgender people

HIV-positive transgender people are just as likely to stay in care, take their medication and have similar outcomes as other men and women living with the disease, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and published online May 30 in Clinical Infectious Diseases. [More]
Study: Young women with breast cancer often choose mastectomy over surgical procedure

Study: Young women with breast cancer often choose mastectomy over surgical procedure

A new study of young women with breast cancer has found that most chose to have a mastectomy rather than a surgical procedure that would conserve the breast, researchers will report at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, May 31-June 4, in Chicago. [More]
Potential new treatment approaches for liver diseases

Potential new treatment approaches for liver diseases

By discovering the new mechanism by which estrogen suppresses lipid synthesis in the liver, UC Irvine endocrinologists have revealed a potential new approach toward treating certain liver diseases. [More]
Obesity directly tied to several cancers

Obesity directly tied to several cancers

"Obesity is a major risk factor for developing cancer, roughly the equivalent of tobacco use, and both are potentially reversible. Further, obese cancer patients do worse in surgery, with radiation or on chemotherapy - worse by any measure." Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., Director of MD Anderson's new Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship and professor of Behavioral Science. [More]
Stronger epigenetic changes in estrogen responsive genes linked to postpartum depression

Stronger epigenetic changes in estrogen responsive genes linked to postpartum depression

The epigenetic modifications, which alter the way genes function without changing the underlying DNA sequence, can apparently be detected in the blood of pregnant women during any trimester, potentially providing a simple way to foretell depression in the weeks after giving birth, and an opportunity to intervene before symptoms become debilitating. [More]
UIC's Center for Clinical and Translational Science selects six research projects for new pilot grants

UIC's Center for Clinical and Translational Science selects six research projects for new pilot grants

The University of Illinois at Chicago's Center for Clinical and Translational Science has selected six research projects to receive pilot grants in 2013. [More]
Neuroscientists find significant differences in brain anatomy of dyslexic people

Neuroscientists find significant differences in brain anatomy of dyslexic people

Using MRI, neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center found significant differences in brain anatomy when comparing men and women with dyslexia to their non-dyslexic control groups, suggesting that the disorder may have a different brain-based manifestation based on sex. [More]

Researchers discover that microRNAs link two defining characteristics of fit muscles

Researchers discovered that small pieces of genetic material called microRNAs link the two defining characteristics of fit muscles: the ability to burn sugar and fat and the ability to switch between slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers. [More]
Seven-year quest to understand how breast cancer cells resist treatment

Seven-year quest to understand how breast cancer cells resist treatment

A seven-year quest to understand how breast cancer cells resist treatment with the targeted therapy lapatinib has revealed a previously unknown molecular network that regulates cell death. [More]
Aerobic exercise can help reduce breast cancer risk

Aerobic exercise can help reduce breast cancer risk

Changes in estrogen breakdown, or metabolism, may be one of the mechanisms by which aerobic exercise lowers a woman's breast cancer risk, according to data published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. [More]
New findings to benefit women with oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer

New findings to benefit women with oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer

A new analysis has provided a comprehensive comparison of scores designed to predict which women with oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer are at high risk of recurrence beyond five years after diagnosis, and may benefit from prolonged endocrine treatment. [More]

Prosigna Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay predicts ROR in women with early-stage breast cancer

NanoString Technologies, Inc., a privately held provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, today announced results from two studies that are featured in oral presentations this week at IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference. [More]