Circulating testosterone and prostate-specific antigen in nipple aspirate fluid and tissue are associated with breast cancer.

Abstract

Preliminary evidence has associated testosterone and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) with breast cancer. Our objective was to determine whether a) testosterone levels in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF), serum, or breast tissue are associated with breast cancer; b) testosterone levels in serum are associated with levels in NAF; c) PSA in NAF, serum, or breast tissue is associated with breast cancer; and d) serum PSA is associated with NAF PSA levels. We obtained 342 NAF specimens from 171 women by means of a modified breast pump. Additionally, we collected 201 blood samples from 99 women and 51 tissue samples from 41 subjects who underwent surgical resection for suspected disease. Women currently using birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy were excluded from the study. Controlling for age and menopausal status, serum testosterone was significantly increased in women with breast cancer (p = 0.002). NAF and serum testosterone levels were not associated. Neither NAF nor tissue testosterone was associated with breast cancer. Controlling for menopausal status and age, NAF PSA was significantly decreased in women with breast cancer (p < 0.001). We did not find serum PSA to be associated with breast cancer, although we found an indication that, in postmenopausal women, its levels were lower in women with cancer. Serum PSA was associated with NAF PSA in postmenopausal women (p < 0.001). PSA levels in cancerous tissue were significantly lower than in benign breast specimens from subjects without cancer (p = 0.011), whereas levels of PSA in histologically benign specimens from subjects with cancer were intermediate. Our results suggest that serum testosterone is increased and NAF PSA is decreased in women with breast cancer, with PSA expression being higher in normal than in cancerous breast tissues. NAF and serum PSA levels in postmenopausal women are correlated, suggesting that as laboratory assessment of PSA becomes more sensitive, serum PSA may become useful in identifying women with breast cancer.

Variation of feedstock in a dual fluidized bed steam gasifier—influence on product gas, tar content, and composition

“…Similarly, the range of PSA values varied with menopausal status, being higher in premenopausal women, whereas the range of values of the other kallikreins did not significantly vary based on menopausal status. This is consistent with our earlier findings24 that PSA levels vary during the menstrual cycle of premenopausal women and appear to be upregulated in association with the progesterone surge. Indeed, hK6 levels in normal subjects tended to be higher in post‐ than in premenopausal women, although the difference was not significant.…”

Androgens downregulate miR-21 expression in breast cancer cells underlining the protective role of androgen receptor

“…Although androgens were successfully used to treat BC [ 23 , 24 ], the role of AR and its signaling in breast carcinogenesis are not yet elucidated and are very often controversial [ 4 ]. AR expression in BC tissue samples has been associated with a better prognosis [ 25 , 26 ] and the lack of AR expression correlates with transformation from “ in situ ” to invasive basal subtype ductal breast carcinoma [ 27 ]. In addition, loss of AR in triple-negative breast cancers is associated with a worse prognosis, including those with basal-like features [ 28 ].…”

Androgen receptor gene repeats and indices of obesity in older adults

“…Individuals who are in the process of lifestyle modification (eg losing weight or increasing exercise levels) are experiencing a variety of physiological alterations, which may have led to spurious results. Third, it was necessary to recruit only a European Caucasian sample due to the ethnic variation that has been observed in the distribution of AR CAG 29 Fourth, the number of participants in this study is relatively small, therefore these analyses should be repeated in a larger population. Fifth, the range of anthropometric measurements in this study is limited due to the general health exclusion criteria that were used and the final sample size.…”