[Are the hormones of youth carcinogenic?].
The decrease of different hormones during aging could play some role in the decline of physical and mental functions of elderly people. Whereas estrogen secretion is almost abolished in menopause, there is a gradual decline of other hormones such as testosterone (T) in men as well as growth hormone (GH) or dehydropepian-drosteronesulfate (DHEAS). As "pause" means cessation in Greek, the term of "clise" (decline) seems to be more appropriate for the 3 latter hormones (e.g. androclise versus andropause). The administration of T and GH to elderly men can increase muscle mass, bone mineral content and decrease fat mass. Long term treatment with estrogens can decrease cardiovascular mortality of postmenopausal women. DHEA administration increases perceived well-being in both sexes. However treatments with T and DHEA risk to induce the growth of an occult prostate cancer and a long term treatments with estrogen can increase the risk of breast cancer. There is a strong association between circulating IGF-I levels and the relative risks of breast and prostate cancer. We hypothesize that the decrease of the latter hormones partially protects against the increasing occurrence of hormonosensitive cancers with aging. The administration of these hormones could oppose this process and increase the carcinogenic risk.
Martin-Du Pan
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D000375:Aging; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000009:adverse effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000009:adverse effects
D004967:Estrogens; D006728:Hormones; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I