title: Androgen and androgen-metabolizing enzymes in metastasized lymph nodes of breast cancer.
abstract: Androgen receptor and androgen metabolizing enzymes, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 (17βHSD5) and 5α-reductase1 (5α1), are frequently detected in primary tumor of breast cancer, but their status in metastatic lymph nodes has not been examined. The biological role of androgen in breast cancer and its metastatic process also remain unknown. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to localize the expression of androgen receptor, 17βHSD5, and 5α1 in primary tumors and paired metastatic lymph nodes and correlated the findings with clinicopathologic factors of individual patients. Approximately 70% of primary tumors and paired metastatic lymph nodes expressed androgen receptor, with significant correlation between both lesions. However, 17βHSD5 and 5α1 immunoreactivity was decreased in metastatic lymph nodes. Alone or in tandem with androgen receptor, 5α1 was associated with significantly lower Ki-67 index, lower pathologic grade, and higher estrogen receptor positivity, but androgen receptor/5α1 double positivity in lymph nodes was associated with larger lymph node metastasis and higher TNM stage. In conclusion, androgen receptor immunoreactivity remained stable during the process of metastasis, whereas androgen-metabolizing enzymes decreased. Although results of our study and previous reports imply additional roles of androgen metabolism in the metastasis process, especially conversion by 5α1, there may be divergence between its effects on primary tumor and those in metastatic lymph nodes.
authors: Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aobaku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan, 980-8575. Electronic address: yukko-shiba@patholo2.med.tohoku.ac.jp.
authors: Yukiko
authors: Y
authors: Shibahara
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Miki
authors: Chikako
authors: C
authors: Sakurada
authors: Keiko
authors: K
authors: Uchida
authors: Shuko
authors: S
authors: Hata
authors: Keely
authors: K
authors: McNamara
authors: Tomomi
authors: T
authors: Yoda
authors: Kiyoshi
authors: K
authors: Takagi
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Nakamura
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Suzuki
authors: Takanori
authors: T
authors: Ishida
authors: Noriaki
authors: N
authors: Ohuchi
authors: Hironobu
authors: H
authors: Sasano
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase
keywords: Androgen; Breast cancer; Immunohistochemistry; Lymph node; Metastasis; Steroid metabolism