[Bone and calcium metabolism associated with malignancy. The function of sex hormone receptors in sex hormone-dependent cancers.]

Both Breast and prostate cancers are dependent on the actions of sex hormones mediated through their nuclear receptors in onset and development of the cancers. Nuclear estrogen and androgen receptors(ER and AR)are DNA-binding transcription factors and regulate expressions of the target mRNA genes by modulating chromatin structure and function. In this short review, the function of nuclear sex hormone receptors in sex hormone-depend cancers are overviewed in the chromatin reorganization for target gene regulations. Moreover, the role of enhancer RNA(eRNA), one of the non-coding RNAs, in chromatin reconfiguration is discussed for enhancer function in tumor development.

[Update on recent progress in vitamin D research. Molecular basis of epigenetic regulation by vitamin D via its nuclear receptor.]

Environment and structure of chromatin underlie epigenetics, and they also facilitate transcriptional regulations by nuclear receptors including VDR. In this short review, the molecular basis of chromatin remodeling and post-translational modifications of histone proteins are illustrated with characterization of their regulators, providing mechanisms for co-regulation of epigenetics and transcription on chromatin. Moreover, the role of enhancer RNA (eRNA), one of the non-coding RNAs, in chromatin configuration is discussed for gene regulation by VDR.