Endocrine Abstracts

Glucocorticoids (Gc) are potent anti-inflammatory steroids which mediate their effects by binding the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Following ligand binding, GR initiates rapid ‘non-genomic’ kinase signals in the cytoplasm, then translocates into the nucleus to mediate ‘genomic’ effects by binding DNA directly or tethering to other DNA bound transcription factors to modulate target gene expression. Little is known about how rapidly induced cytoplasm derived...

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer with a median survival time of 12–15 months from diagnosis. Standard therapies utilise a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Patients also receive high doses of the potent anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid (Gc), Dexamethasone (Dex).Recent studies show that patients receiving the highest dose of Dex also have reduced survival time. Defining pathways under Gc control relevant to GBM is necessa...

Synthetic glucocorticoids (Gc) are the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known and are widely used to treat a range of chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. However their therapeutic utility is limited by the development of Gc resistance over time – particularly at sites of inflammation. Understanding the underlying mechanisms that control Gc sensitivity is essential to overcome this. Previous studies have measured the average transcr...

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents 10–20% of all breast cancers diagnosed, affects young people and is highly aggressive. These tumours lack expression of the receptors that bind estrogen and progesterone and stratify patients for hormonal therapy. The only current therapeutic option for TNBC is chemotherapy which has limited efficacy, and therefore novel therapies are desperately needed. The receptors for estrogen and progesterone belong to the nuclear recep...