Plasma Sex Steroids and SHBG in Patients with Breast Cancer and their Relation to Tumor Oestrogen-Dependency

Abstract

In order to evaluate the possible role of sex steroids in breast cancer and their relation to the presence of oestradiol receptors (ER), ER were quantified in 112 breast adenocarcinomas and 14 benign tumours. The sex hormones of the patients were determined in plasma: oestradiol (E2), progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, as well as SHBG and gonadotrophins. The ER were evaluated in cytosolic and nuclear fractions. Steroids and gonadotrophins were determined by RIA. SHBG was determined by following a procedure of saturation with tritiated dihydrostestosterone. The mean levels of E2 in postmenopausal women with breast cancer was found to be significantly higher than of the control group. However, no significant variations for the rest of the steroids were seen among the patients with breast cancer and the control group or benign tumour. Nor was any relation found between the presence of ER and the hormonal steroids studied or SHBG. It is suggested that the possible influence of the sex steroids in the etiopathogenesis of breast cancer might be due to the greater production accompanied by a parallel metabolic clearance that would maintain their plasma levels.

Is Immunohistochemical Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Expression Important in the Differential Diagnosis of Adenocarcinomas?

“…Numerous studies have been conducted on the plasma levels of SHBG, the associations of these levels and various physiological functions and also some tumors (Sulkes et al 1984;Teruel et al, 1989;Dechaud et al, 1995;Cousin et al, 1998).…”