Endocrine Signaling and Tissue Remodeling in Gynecomastia: Implications for Treatment Response
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
- 2Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macao 999078, China
- 3The First Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- 4Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Abstract
To critically synthesize evidence on treatment response in gynecomastia using a framework that distinguishes biological response, structural response, and patient-important benefit. We searched PubMed, PubMed Central, and targeted journals through 11 September 2026. Priority was given to gynecomastia-specific human studies; evidence from other breast systems, animal models, and general biomarker methodology was treated as indirect. The randomized anastrozole trial showed an endocrine effect but did not demonstrate superiority over placebo on the prespecified structural endpoint. Receptor expression in surgical specimens provides biological plausibility but does not establish receptor functionality, endocrine dependence, or predictive value. Stromal composition may influence lesion regression, but this remains a hypothesis requiring direct testing. Ultrasonography and elastography may support pretreatment characterization, but current studies do not validate imaging features as surrogates for fibrosis or endocrine responsiveness. Gynecomastia-derived organoids offer a disease-relevant model for functional studies, although donor numbers are small and endocrine responsiveness, cellular representativeness, and reproducibility across patients require further evaluation remain uncertain. Biological response, structural response, and patient-important benefit need not occur together or in a fixed sequence. Further research should link tissue and model findings to pretreatment markers, compare treatment benefits, and establish clinical utility before marker-guided care.
Related
- Endoplasmic reticulum remodeling in oocyte cytoplasmic maturation: calcium signaling, organelle communication, and clinical implications for assisted reproduction
- Dilution‐Driven Regulation of Biostimulatory Signaling in Calcium Hydroxylapatite–PRGF Systems: Implications for Early Dermal Remodeling
- Implications of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals for Human Health and Effective Methods for Prevention and Reduction
- Testing for the presence of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Locally Available Perfumes in Pakistan Through GC-MS Analysis and Implications for Public Health Policy
- Gynecomastia in iatrogenic Cushing syndrome.
BibTeX
@article{deng2026endocrine,
title = {{Endocrine Signaling and Tissue Remodeling in Gynecomastia: Implications for Treatment Response}},
author = {Jian Deng and Shanshan Tong and Siqi Liu and Haisheng Zhou and Min Ren},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219443},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9443},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Endocrine Signaling and Tissue Remodeling in Gynecomastia: Implications for Treatment Response
AU - Jian Deng
AU - Shanshan Tong
AU - Siqi Liu
AU - Haisheng Zhou
AU - Min Ren
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219443
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9443
AB - To critically synthesize evidence on treatment response in gynecomastia using a framework that distinguishes biological response, structural response, and patient-important benefit. We searched PubMed, PubMed Central, and targeted journals through 11 September 2026. Priority was given to gynecomastia-specific human studies; evidence from other breast systems, animal models, and general biomarker methodology was treated as indirect. The randomized anastrozole trial showed an endocrine effect but did not demonstrate superiority over placebo on the prespecified structural endpoint. Receptor expression in surgical specimens provides biological plausibility but does not establish receptor functionality, endocrine dependence, or predictive value. Stromal composition may influence lesion regression, but this remains a hypothesis requiring direct testing. Ultrasonography and elastography may support pretreatment characterization, but current studies do not validate imaging features as surrogates for fibrosis or endocrine responsiveness. Gynecomastia-derived organoids offer a disease-relevant model for functional studies, although donor numbers are small and endocrine responsiveness, cellular representativeness, and reproducibility across patients require further evaluation remain uncertain. Biological response, structural response, and patient-important benefit need not occur together or in a fixed sequence. Further research should link tissue and model findings to pretreatment markers, compare treatment benefits, and establish clinical utility before marker-guided care.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -