title: Prognostic significance of aromatase and estrone sulfatase enzymes in human breast cancer.
abstract: The aromatase and estrone sulfatase enzymes are important sources of local synthesis of biologically active estrogens in human breast cancer. Significant intratumoral aromatase activity was detected in 91/145 (63%) of tumors and estrone sulfatase was detected in 93/104 (89%) of tumors. There was no relationship between aromatase activity and tumor size, site, nodal status, menopausal status or estrogen receptor status. There was a significant correlation between the aromatase activity and histological grade, with an excess of aromatase-positive in the high grade tumors (P = 0.03). There was a marginally inverse correlation between the aromatase activity and time to relapse (P < 0.1), a significant correlation between aromatase activity and survival after relapse (P < 0.05) but not with overall survival (P > 0.1). Intratumoral estrone sulfatase activity was not significantly correlated to any putative prognostic factors, nor with time to relapse nor overall survival time.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, England.
authors: T R
authors: TR
authors: Evans
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Rowlands
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Silva
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Law
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Coombes
mesh_terms: D001141:Aromatase / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013429:Sulfatases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D001141:Aromatase; D013429:Sulfatases; C020121:estrone sulfatase