Serum Concentrations of Estrogens, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, and Androgens and Risk of Breast Hyperplasia in Postmenopausal Women

Jul 21, 2005Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology

Blood hormone levels and risk of breast tissue overgrowth in postmenopausal women

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Women in the highest tertile for estradiol, estrone, and estrone sulfate had an odds ratio of 5.8 for breast hyperplasia compared to those in the lowest tertile.

Increased serum concentrations of estradiol were associated with higher odds of mammary hyperplasia.
The odds ratios for the upper quartiles of estradiol compared to the lowest quartile were 2.2, 2.5, and 4.1.
Bioavailable estradiol, estrone, and estrone sulfate showed similar associations with hyperplasia risk.
No associations were found between sex hormone binding globulin, testosterone, and other androgens with hyperplasia risk.
Estrogens may play a significant role early in the development of breast cancer risk factors.

AI simplified

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether serum concentrations of estrogens, androgens, and sex hormone binding globulin in postmenopausal women were related to the presence of mammary hyperplasia, an established breast cancer risk factor.

METHODS: Study participants provided serum before breast biopsy or mastectomy in three hospitals in Grand Rapids, Michigan, between 1977 and 1987. A total of 179 subjects with breast hyperplasia were compared with 152 subjects with nonproliferative breast changes that are not associated with increased breast cancer risk.

RESULTS: The odds ratios (OR) associated with the three upper quartiles of estradiol in comparison with the lowest quartile were 2.2 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.1-4.6], 2.5 (95% CI, 1.1-5.3), and 4.1 (95% CI, 2.0-8.5; Ptrend = 0.007). The corresponding ORs for bioavailable estradiol, estrone, and estrone sulfate were of generally similar magnitude (Ptrend = 0.003 for bioavailable estradiol, 0.0004 for estrone, and 0.0009 for estrone sulfate). Relative to women concurrently in the lowest tertile for serum estradiol, estrone, and estrone sulfate, women concurrently in the highest tertile for all three hormones had an OR of 5.8 (95% CI, 2.2-15.2). Serum concentrations of sex hormone binding globulin, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, and androstenediol were not associated with risk of hyperplasia.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum concentrations of estrogens, but not of androgens or sex hormone binding globulin, were strongly and significantly associated with risk of breast hyperplasia in postmenopausal women, suggesting that estrogens are important early in the pathologic process towards breast cancer.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (PDF) ↗View full text ↗

Serum Concentrations of Estrogens, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, and Androgens and Risk of Breast Hyperplasia in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief