ESR1 and cancer: By delivering selective siRNAs against the mRNA transcripts of the growth factor receptors, such as ER, ERBB2 (HER2), EGFR and IGFR, and anti-apoptotic protein, such as BCL2 in human (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and murine (4T1) breast cancer cell lines, we found that ESR1 along with BCL-2, or with ERBB2 and EGFR critically contributes to the growth/survival of the cancer cells by activating the MAPK and PI-3 kinase pathways.