title: Plasma and urinary oestrogens in breast cancer patients on treatment with 4-hydroxyandrostenedione.
abstract: Plasma and urinary oestrogens were measured in nine breast cancer patients (eight postmenopausal women and one man) before and during treatment with the aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione. Urinary oestrogens were measured by using a highly specific GC-MS method. Plasma levels of oestrone, oestradiol and oestrone sulphate were suppressed by 66.6% (+/- 3.6%), 57.7% (+/- 5.1%) and 51.8% (+/- 6.4%) respectively (P < 0.005 for all). Twenty-four hour urinary excretion of total oestrogens, oestradiol, oestriol, 2-hydroxyoestrone, 16 alpha-hydroxyoestrone and the minor metabolites 16 beta- and 15 alpha-hydroxyoestrone were all suppressed by mean values ranging from 60% to 82%, (oestradiol: P < 0.025, otherwise P < 0.005). There were no significant changes in the ratios between the different plasma oestrogens. The finding of sustained plasma and urinary oestrogens at 20-40% compared to their control levels indirectly support a hypothesis of alternative oestrogen sources in postmenopausal breast cancer patients on treatment with 4-hydroxyandrostenedione.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Bergen, Haukeland sykehus, Norway.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Johannessen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adlercreutz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fotsis
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lønning
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004967:Estrogens; D000735:Androstenedione; C014594:formestane