Estrogen receptor β potentiates the antiproliferative effect of raloxifene and affects the cell migration and invasion in HCT-116 colon cancer cells

Background Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) is the predominant ER in the colorectal epithelium, whose expression is greatly reduced in colorectal cancer compared with normal colon tissue. Recent in vitro studies suggested that ERβ may suppress tumor growth. No research was reported whether ERβ can be used as therapeutic agent for colon cancer.