The Role of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Genitourinary Cancers

Abstract

A steroid hormone receptor, mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), is well known to play a critical role in maintaining normal homeostasis in the body primarily via regulating ionic and water transports. Indeed, MR antagonists have been prescribed to the patients as diuretic drugs. Meanwhile, emerging evidence has indicated that MR signaling, with or without functional interplay with glucocorticoid receptor or androgen receptor, contributes to modulating the development and progression of several types of neoplasms including genitourinary malignancies. This review summarizes the available data suggesting the involvement of MR signaling in renal cell carcinoma, prostatic adenocarcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and other malignancies, and highlights potential underlying molecular mechanisms.