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Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most significant causes of mortality among women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. The estrogen receptor (ER) is a key oncogenic driver in the majority of breast cancer. ER+ BC is the most common molecular subtype of BC. Management of ER+ breast cancer varies depending on menopausal status. For premenopausal women, the goal is to suppress estradiol production from the ovaries with surgical oophorectomy and/or aromatase inhibitors. In postmenopausal women, endocrine therapy (ET) serves to suppress estradiol production from sources other than the ovaries. During the menopausal transition, estradiol levels decrease, resulting in a negative balance of the bone remodeling cycle, resulting in osteoporosis. ET also leads to a decrease in estrogen and osteoporosis induced by ET in ER+ BC has become a concern. In this study, ovariectomized NSG mice were treated with different antiestrogens over the course of 6 weeks. We have shown significant differences in bone density and trabecular thickness were observed between the E2 and treatment groups. Hypothesis: Endocrine therapies display context-dependent ER agonist activity in the bone in models of estrogen-withdrawal induced osteoporosis.
Publication Date
2026
Subject Major(s)
Biology
Keywords
endocrine therapies, osteoporosis, ER+ breast cancer
Disciplines
Cancer Biology | Medical Cell Biology | Medical Pathology | Molecular Biology
Current Academic Year
Senior
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. J. Chuck Harrell
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Emily K. Zboril
Rights
© The Author(s)
Included in
Cancer Biology Commons, Medical Cell Biology Commons, Medical Pathology Commons, Molecular Biology Commons