Dual regulation of the epidermal growth factor family of growth factors in breast cancer by sex steroids and protein kinase C

There has been increased interest in the last few years in seeking a better understanding of the local regulation of polypeptide growth factors by systemic hormones, such as sex steroids and by polypeptide hormones. Growth factors and systemic hormones play pivotal roles in hormone-regulated cancers such as breast cancer. In this review, we discuss the regulation of members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family by sex steroids and by regulators of the polypeptide hormone signal transduction enzyme termed protein kinase C (PKC). Regulation of the EGF family of genes will be discussed as a model system to evaluate interactions between these two important types of regulatory pathways in breast cancer.