title: [Interactions of insulin and estrogen in the regulation of cell proliferation and carcinogenesis].
abstract: Equilibrium of sexual steroids and metabolic processes has close correlations. Insulin is a potent regulator of human sexual steroid hormone production and modulates their signals at receptor level. Insulin resistance and excessive insulin production provoke hyperandrogenism and estrogen deficiency in women resulting not only in anovulatory dysfunction but also a high risk for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Physiologic functions of all female organs have higher estrogen demand as compared with men. In healthy women estrogen predominance against androgens is a favor in their reproductive period, which means a strong defense against insulin resistance and its complications. However, in postmenopausal cases the increasing prevalence of insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes associated with estrogen deficiency and androgen excess, result in a gender specific higher risk for precancerous lesions and cancer as compared with men. Estrogen has beneficial effect on the energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis and on the lipid metabolism of liver and of peripheral tissues as well. A moderate or severe decrease in serum estrogen level enhances the prevalence of insulin resistant states. In premenopausal women long or irregular menstrual cycles are predictors for the risk of insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes. Moreover, in postmenopausal estrogen deficient cases elevated fasting glucose, increased body weight and abdominal fat deposition are often observed progressively with age in correlation with an impaired glucose tolerance. In the rare cases of estrogen deficient men severe type-2 diabetes seems to be a characteristic complication. Upon becoming familiar with the cancer risk of insulin resistance and estrogen deficiency, there would be plenty of possibilities for primary cancer prevention. In patients with cancer the treatment of hormonal and metabolic disturbances may become effective adjuvant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Országos Onkológiai Intézet Sebészeti és Molekuláris Tumorpatológiai Osztály Budapest Ráth György u. subazdr@gmail.com
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Suba
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kásler
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004967:Estrogens; D007328:Insulin