This entry highlights that exogenous and endogenous sources of estrogens in the human body. Estrogen associated receptors ERs, GPERs, EGFRs and orphan nuclear receptors ERRs. Role of estrogens and associated receptors in normal lung physiology and NSCLC complications. Potential of using anti-estrogen molecules, alone or in combination with ER/GPER/ EGFR/ERR inhibitors as NSCLC treatment regimen.
Exogenous and endogenous estrogens and associated receptors modulate signaling pathways with biochemical events implicated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) manifestation. The diversity of biochemical interactions initiated by estrogens is rigorous, regulated via distinct estrogen-associated receptors. While estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) is overexpressed in 60–80% of NSCLCs irrespective of gender, the recognition of transmembrane G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) creates several interfaces of estrogen-interception-driven aggressive NSCLC manifestation. There is still room for understanding the crux of ER–EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) interactions considering the recent clinical trials revealing a synergistic anti-NSCLC response.
| Clinical Trial Registry | Primary Objective of the Trial | Phase of Study, Tumor Stage and Current Status | Findings Published (Ref.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT01556191 | Evaluating an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), gefitinib and an EGFR-TKI-anti-oestrogen (erlotinib, fulvestrant) combined potency in women with advanced-stage non-squamous lung cancer | Phase I, stage IV lung cancer, completed | Improved outcome [41] |
| NCT00100854 | Evaluation of synergistic fulvestrant delivery with erlotinib for the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment | Phase II, stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer, completed | Improved outcome [42] |
| NCT02666105 | Evaluation of adding exemestane therapy in postmenopausal women suffering from NSCLC while on treatment with an immune checkpoint antibody (pembrolizumab, atezolizumab or nivolumab) | Phase II, advanced stage NSCLC, ongoing | Improved outcome [43] |
| NCT01664754 | Determining the safety and tolerability of escalating exemestane doses on being co-delivered with pemetrexed (pemetrexed disodium) and carboplatin in postmenopausal womensuffering from NSCLC | Phase I, stage IV non-squamous NSCLC, ongoing | Combination is safe and well-tolerated, response rate correlates with tumor aromatase expression [44] |
| NCT02751385 | Screening the effect of nintedanib on the (ethinylestradiol + levonorgestrel) pharmacokinetics in NSCLC patients | Phase I, all NSCLC patients, completed | No findings published todate |
| NCT00576225 | Screening the effect of paclitaxel poliglumex (CT-103)/carboplatin versus paclitaxel/carboplatin for women NSCLC sufferers | Phase III, sufferers having >25 pg·mL−1 estradiol, completed | CT-103 did not provide superior survival over the paclitaxel-carboplatin for first-line treatment of NSCLC patients, results were comparable for progression-free and overall survival [45] |
| NCT03099174 | Ascertaining a safe dosage of xentuzumab in combination with abemaciclib with or without hormonal therapies in lung and breast cancer | Phase I, no stage distinction, ongoing | Findings not yet published |
| NCT00592007 | Screening the impact of adding fulvestrant to erlotinib in NSCLC patients | Phase II, stage IIIB or IV, concluded | [46] |
| NCT00932152 | Fulvestrant and anastrozole (aromatase inhibitor) as consolidation therapy in postmenopausal women NSCLC sufferers | Phase II, advanced stage NSCLC, concluded | [47] |
| NCT01594398 | Assessing the food effect on entinostat pharmacokinetics in NSCLC sufferers (ENCORE110) | Phase I, no stage distinction, completed | No findings published, study listed from [39] |
| AM2013-4664 | Evaluation of erlotinib antitumor activity in NSCLC on fulvestrant inclusion in the patients received > 1 chemotherapy regimen | Phase II, advanced state NSCLC patients | [48] |
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/cancers14010080