Estrogen-related receptor α as a therapeutic target in cancer

Abstract

The orphan receptor estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-regulated transcription factors. This protein is structurally most related to the canonical estrogen receptor and has been shown to modulate estrogen signaling in some contexts. These observations have heightened interest in ERRα as a therapeutic target in both breast and ovarian cancer and in other estrogenopathies. This review details our present understanding of ERRα action with a view to highlight specific aspects of its signal-transduction pathway in breast cancer that may be amenable to pharmaceutical manipulation.