Androgen imbalance in premenopausal women with benign breast disease and breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The alteration of steroid hormonal status in premenopausal breast disease (benign and malignant) were investigated by comparing the urinary profile of androgens and corticoids.


METHODS
The urinary concentrations of 25 androgens and corticoids were quantitatively determined by a gas chromatographymass spectrometry system in patients with benign breast disease (35 cases, 20-54 years), breast cancer (34, 27-54), and healthy controls of similar age (25, 22-51).


RESULTS
In premenopausal patients with breast cancer, a significantly lower rate of excretion of 11-deoxy-17-ketosteroids and their metabolites was found in comparison with normal females. These levels were also inversely associated with benign breast disease. No significant differences were found between the three groups for the concentration of 11-oxy-17-ketosteroids, 17-hydroxy-corticoids and their metabolites. The urinary ratio of adrenal androgen metabolites to cortisol metabolites [(11-DOKS & M)/11-OKS] declined in the order of normal female control (4.04 +/- 0.72; mean +/- SD), breast benign mass (2.29 +/- 0.42) and breast cancer (0.94 +/- 0.27).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the hormonal imbalance of androgen deficiency and/or corticoid sufficiency is closely associated with the benign and malignant conditions of premenopausal breast disease and the ratio of (11-DOKS & M)/11-OKS may be an effective discriminant factor of these groups.
Lee
S H
SH
Bioanalysis & Biotransformation Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Cheongryang, Seoul.
Kim
S O
SO
Kwon
S W
SW
Chung
B C
BC
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000502:physiology / Q000652:urine; D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology / Q000652:urine*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007664:Ketosteroids / Q000652:urine; D008593:Menopause
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000728:Androgens; D007664:Ketosteroids