Estrogen receptor-α36 is involved in development of acquired tamoxifen resistance via regulating the growth status switch in breast cancer cells

► MCF-7/TAM cells possess overexpressed ER-α36 and EGFR, but down-regulated ER-α66. ► Overexpressing ER-α36 in MCF-7 cells up-regulated EGFR and down-regulated ER-α66. ► ER-α36 is involved in maintaining malignant phenotype of MCF-7/TAM cells.