title: Corticosteroid sulfate excretion and estrogen receptors in breast cancer.
abstract: The urinary excretion of corticosteroid sulfates and free cortisol were determined in 150 breast cancer patients. Four of 60 cases of early breast cancer (7%) and 26 of 90 patients with advanced breast cancer (29%) showed an elevated urinary corticosteroid sulfate excretion. Urinary free cortisol was usually normal. Estrogen receptor assays were performed on tumor samples from 67 breast cancer patients; 24 were from primary lesions obtained at mastectomy, 3 from inoperable primaries in patients with systemic metastases, and 40 from metastases. Sixteen of the primary breast cancers (67%), 26 of the metastases (65%) and 1 of the 3 inoperable primaries contained estrogen receptors. With 2 exceptions, patients with an increased urinary corticosteroid sulfate excretion also had estrogen receptor-containing tumors.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000652:urine*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004967:Estrogens; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D006854:Hydrocortisone