The Prolactin Receptor as a Therapeutic Target in Human Diseases: Exploring New Potential Indications

The document reviews the potential of prolactin receptor (PRLR) inhibitors as therapeutic targets for a variety of human diseases, including breast and prostate cancers, hyperprolactinemia, benign breast diseases, endometriosis, contraception, gastrointestinal and hematologic tumors, leukemia, hair loss, pain management, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). It discusses two classes of PRLR blockers, PRL-core based analogs and anti-PRLR neutralizing antibodies, and their current status in clinical Phase I trials. The review emphasizes the complexity of PRL effects, the need for potent and validated anti-PRLR antibodies for accurate mapping of PRLR expression, and the challenges in patient stratification. It also highlights the economic and medical implications of developing such treatments, the importance of functionally validated PRLR blockers, and the high cost of clinical trials. The document suggests that while PRL and PRLR are promising therapeutic targets, more research is needed to confirm these indications and to overcome the challenges in developing effective treatments.