Histone deacetylases and estrogen signalling in breast cancer

The estrogen receptor (ER) regulates transcription of specific genes by interacting with multiprotein complexes containing his tone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC). RE and their transcriptional core gulators can be modified by acetylation on lysine residues. This post-translational modification controls their ability to interact with DNA and modulate transcription. Different HDAC are recruited directly or indirectly by the RE and regulate the activity and the expression of these receptors in breast cancer cells. HDAC are involved at several levels in estrogen signaling and their expression is deregulated in breast tumors. HDAC inhibitors led to promising results in the treatment of advanced breast cancer in combination with chemotherapy or hormonal treatments.