Contribution of Hormones and Other Bioregulators to Tumor Ontopathogeny

This minireview presents the contribution of estrogens and other hormones to the etiopathogenesis of tumors, as well as to the phenomena of perinatal programming/imprinting for various types of cancer. In addition, the importance of endocrine disruptors is discussed in the ontopathogeny of some oncologic diseases. The important role of stress and glucocorticoids, as referred to neoplastic growth, is highlighted. It is proposed that greater attention should be paid to the maintenance of the balance between cellular proliferation, the survival capacity of cells, and apoptosis as the basis for the bioregulation of normal and pathologic growth.