Plasma Hormone Levels and Oestrogen Production in a Postmenopausal Woman With Endometrial Carcinoma and an Ovarian Thecoma

Abstract

SUMMARY Plasma hormone concentrations, the production rate of oestrone from androstenedione, and the total production rate of oestrone have been measured in a 57‐year‐old woman with an ovarian thecoma and endometrial carcinoma before and 2 months after hysterectomy and bilateral ovariectomy. The plasma concentration of oestradiol (184 pmol/l), but not oestrone (144 pmol/l), was elevated pre‐operatively and FSH secretion was suppressed (115.0 μg/l). Post‐operatively the plasma concentration of oestradiol was significantly reduced (80 pmol/l) and the concentration of FSH (571 μg/l) had increased to a postmenopausal level. The concentration of oestradiol in samples of plasma obtained simultaneously at operation from the ovarian vein of the ovary containing the thecoma (3.38 nmol/l) was fifteen times greater than in the periphery (228.0 pmol/l), and this confirmed that oestradiol was secreted by the thecoma. The total production rates of oestrone pre‐and post‐operatively were 101.3 nmo1/24 h and 29.2 nmo1/24 h respectively and the production rates of oestrone from androstenedione were 41.4 nmo1/24 h and 32.9 nmo1/24 h. Thus, postaperatively, all the oestrone was produced from circulating androstenedione, whereas pre‐operatively only 40% of the oestrone was produced by the extraglandular conversion of androstenedione; the remaining 60% presumably originated from the peripheral conversion of oestradiol secreted by the thecoma. It is concluded that the oestradiol secreted by the thecoma was probably the major factor which caused the development of endometrial carcinoma in this subject.

in situ oestrone synthesis in normal breast and breast tumour tissues: Effect of treatment with 4‐hydroxyandrostenedione

“…Extraction from tissues, purification and counting of 3H-androstenedione and I4C-oestrone were performed as previously described (Reed et al, 1979;McNeill et al, 1986;James et al, 1987). Unlabelled androstenedione (100 pg, Sigma, Poole, UK) and oestrone (100 pg, Sigma) were added as carriers.…”

A comparison of the in vivo uptake and metabolism of 3H‐oestrone and 3H‐oestradiol by normal breast and breast tumour tissues in post‐menopausal women

“…Oestrogens were subsequently separated by thinlayer chromatography with dich1oromethane:ethyl acetate (80:20v/v). Areas of radioactivity were located using a radiochromatogram-imaging system (Panax, Bournemouth, UK), and transferred to a scintillation vial, then radioactivity was measured (Reed et al, 1979).…”

Concentrations of oestrone and 4‐hydroxyandrostenedione in malignant and normal breast tissues

“…In post-menopausal women, oestrogens are synthesized almost exclusively from the peripheral conversion of androstenedione to oestrone (Siiteri and MacDonald, 1973;Reed et al, 1979). This conversion is mediated by the aromatase enzyme complex, which is located in several tissues in the body including adipose and normal and malignant breast tissues (Miller and Forrest, 1976;James et al, 1987).…”