The Role of Estrogens in Prostate Carcinogenesis: A Rationale for Chemoprevention

摘要

Estrogens as hormonal therapy, particularly diethylstilbestrol, are effective against androgen-dependent prostate cancer, but paradoxically estrogens might also be involved in the causation of this malignancy. Therefore, antiestrogens have been suggested as both a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic treatment, thereby inhibiting the development and progression of prostate cancer. This review addresses the role of estrogens in prostate carcinogenesis and prostate cancer progression and examines the rationale for using antiestrogenic agents in chemoprevention of prostate cancer.