Concentrations of estrone, estradiol, and estrone sulfate and evaluation of sulfatase and aromatase activities in pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Abstract

This report concerns the evaluation of various estrogens, estrone (El), estradiol (E2), and estrone sulfate (E1S), as well as E1S-sulfatase and aromatase activities in pre- and postmenopausal women with breast cancer. The levels (in picomoles per g; mean +/- SEM) of the various estrogens in the breast tissue from premenopausal patients (n = 11) are: El, 1.4 +/- 0.5; E2, 1.2 +/- 0.6; and E1S, 1.2 +/- 0.3. In postmenopausal patients (n = 23), the values are, respectively, 1.0 +/- 0.4, 1.4 +/- 0.7, and 3.3 +/- 1.9. These concentrations of estrogens in the tumors of postmenopausal patients are significantly higher than those found in plasma. The activity of E1S-sulfatase in both pre- and postmenopausal patients was 50-200 times higher than that of aromatase. E1S-sulfatase and aromatase activities are significantly higher in post-menopausal than in cycling patients. It is concluded that despite the low levels of circulating estrogens in postmenopausal patients, the tissue concentrations of these steroids are several-fold higher than those in plasma, suggesting tumor accumulation of these estrogens. The physiopathology and clinical significance of these high levels of the various estrogens (E1, E2, and E1S) as well as sulfatase and aromatase activities in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer is yet to be explored.

HER2 status and disparities in luminal breast cancers

“…Progesterone levels are higher in premenopausal women, typically those diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50 years, compared to postmenopausal women over the age of 60 20, 21. Our study showed that women under the age of 50 were at an increased risk of developing ER−/PR+ Luminal A disease, while women over the age of 60 were at a decreased risk compared to ER+/PR+ disease.…”

Clinical significance of aromatase protein expression in axillary node negative breast cancer

“…There was evidence of elevated serum estrogen levels associated with a high risk of breast cancer (Hankinson et al 1998;Key et al 2003;Missmer et al 2004); however, it is interesting that local concentrations of estradiol in specimens of breast carcinomas from postmenopausal patients were found to be several-fold higher than those in the plasma (Pasqualini et al 1996;van Landeghem et al 1985). More than 50% of all breast cancers are sensitive to hormone treatment, indicating an important role of estrogens in the progression of the disease.…”

Molecular endocrinology

“…In malignem Brustgewebe ist darüber hinaus unabhängig vom Menopausenstatus die E2-Gewebehormonkonzentration höher als die in normalem Brustgewebe [17]. Da in der Postmenopause die ovarielle E2-Produktion um etwa 90 reduziert ist, kann die im Brustgewebe gemessene E2-Konzentration nicht allein über eine Aufnahme aus dem Serum erklärt werden.…”