Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0006142 (breast cancer)
 160,383 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We studied the 24-hour plasma melatonin profile in three groups of women: normal individuals, women with breast cancer, and women at high risk for breast cancer, to determine the relationship of plasma melatonin to this malignancy. The mean daytime (nadir) and mean nighttime (peak) plasma levels for the normal subjects were 9.1 pg/mL and 70.9 pg/mL, respectively. The mean daytime and nighttime plasma levels, and the range of melatonin day to night differences for women with breast cancer and women at high risk for breast cancer were comparable to each other and to the normal subjects, with no statistically significant differences noted. The patients with breast cancer demonstrated a striking correlation between the melatonin diurnal rhythm and the steroid receptor content of the primary tumor. Women with estrogen (ER) or progesterone (PR) receptor-positive tumors had a significantly lower mean plasma melatonin day to night difference than did patients with ER- or PR-negative tumors. Further, a strong inverse correlation was observed between the plasma melatonin concentration and the quantities of ER and PR in the primary tumor: the lower the plasma melatonin concentration the greater the amount of either receptor in the primary tumor. Plasma melatonin did not correlate with tumor glucocorticoid receptor content or stage of breast cancer among these patients, or with menopausal status, age, parity, or the plasma levels of estrone, estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), or luteinizing hormone (LH) among all individuals studied. Plasma melatonin was also independent of the degree of risk for breast cancer among the high-risk patients. These findings suggest an important relationship between the plasma melatonin diurnal rhythm and the hormone dependency of human breast cancer, and may have implications for both the prognosis and treatment of this malignancy.
 ...
PMID:Plasma melatonin and the hormone-dependency of human breast cancer. 402 Apr 7

Forty-three women underwent transsphenoidal hypophysectomy for metastatic breast cancer. Endocrine tests (luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyrotropin, prolactin and growth hormone) were done in 28 patients to evaluate the completeness of the procedure. Response of the metastatic breast cancer and duration of survival after hypophysectomy were determined and statistically compared with the posthypophysectomy hormone levels. Only one patient had an endocrinologically complete hypophysectomy, but the objective remission rate (32 percent) is comparable to the 30 to 40 percent objective remission rate reported in other studies that claim to have achieved complete hypophysectomy. No statistically significant associations were found between the levels of the hormones measured and the type of response (objective, subjective or none) to hypophysectomy. However, objective responders survived longer than nonresponders (p = 0.01). When analyzing the associations of the various hormone levels with the duration of survival after hypophysectomy, a positive correlation (p less than 0.05) of peak thyrotropin levels with duration of survival was found. Our data indicate that the clinical benefit advanced breast cancer patients received from an endocrinologically incomplete hypophysectomy is probably as great as that received from an endocrinologically complete hypophysectomy. It appears that a nonspecific disturbance of the hormonal milieu may adversely affect the growth of breast cancer. More studies are needed to elucidate the nature of the endocrine disturbance produced by hypophysectomy and its effects on hormone-sensitive tumors.
 ...
PMID:Role of endocrine function tests in the evaluation of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy for advanced breast cancer. 617 33

The effect of tamoxifen therapy on plasma hormones in the pre- and postmenopausal state was studied in a young patient with breast cancer. Tamoxifen therapy was carried out for metastatic disease prior to (premenopausal) and after oophorectomy (surgical menopause). Changes in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and estrogen were noted and were corroborated with the therapy or oophorectomy. The findings support some of the previously reported changes in those hormones that were noted in conjunction with tamoxifen therapy.
 ...
PMID:Plasma hormone responses to tamoxifen therapy and oophorectomy. 629 82

Seventeen young women with clinically confirmed mammary dysplasia and six age-matched controls were treated with alpha-tocopherol. Serum samples collected during the luteal phase of each woman at monthly intervals for the 4-month duration of the study were analyzed for serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin concentrations by radioimmunoassay and for lipoprotein levels by a combination of precipitation, ultracentrifugation, and enzymatic techniques. Fifteen patients showed objective and subjective remission from disease. While prolactin levels did not change significantly, elevated levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones were decreased to normal levels. Ratios of serum cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased; high-density lipoprotein and free cholesterol associated with low-density lipoproteins increased as a result of therapy. The results suggest that alpha-tocopherol may serve as an effective agent not only to treat patients with benign breast disease but also to normalize abnormal hormone and lipid levels in subjects at high risk for breast cancer.
 ...
PMID:Serum hormones and lipoproteins in benign breast disease. 679 Jan 70

We evaluated the comparative effects of aminoglutethimide (AG) on androgen and estrogen levels estrone ([E1], estradiol [E2], plasma dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate [DHEA-S], testosterone [T], dihydrotestosterone [DHT], delta 4-androstenedione [delta 4-A]), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer randomly allocated to either AG treatment or bilateral surgical adrenalectomy as a control group. In response to either treatment, the plasma levels of E1 fell 62-75% (P less than 0.001) and urine E1 85.7-88.7% (P less than 0.001) in all study days over a 12-wk period. Similarly, the concentrations of E2 in plasma and urine fell 40-72% without statistically significant differences between the two treatment modalities. The relatively weak androgen, DHEA-S, was reduced by 92% (877.3 +/- 184.6 to 71.8 +/- 14.5 ng/ml) at 12 wk in women treated with AG, but suppressed nearly 99% (1,151 +/- 262 to 5.8 +/- 3.3 ng/ml) in adrenalectomized women. At all time points after treatment, the DHEA-S levels were significantly higher in patients receiving AG. Plasma concentrations of the potent androgens, T and DHT, were also relatively preserved during AG treatment. T levels were never significantly reduced by AG, and DHT concentrations were decreased only at the 4th wk to a maximum of 20%. delta 4-A levels fell 56% in response to this drug only on the 12th wk of therapy (basal, 0.79 +/- 0.09 ng/ml; 12 wk, 0.35 +/- 0.07 ng/ml). In marked contrast, all androgens fell significantly at each time period in response to surgical adrenalectomy, with an 81% maximum suppression of T, 73% of DHT, and 97% of delta 4-A. In response to estrogen suppression, plasma levels of FSH, LH, and prolactin did not change significantly throughout the treatment period in either therapy group. To examine possible contributions of the postmenopausal ovary to hormone levels during therapy, data from surgically castrate and spontaneously menopausal women were evaluated separately. No significant differences between the two groups were observed for E1, E2, T, DHT, DHEA-S, delta 4-A, LH, FSH, and prolactin. We conclude that equivalent and highly significant estrogen suppression occurs with either AG or surgical adrenalectomy although androgen secretion is preserved during AG treatment but not after surgical adrenalectomy. The combined effects of estrogen deprivation associated with androgen preservation might be significant in the therapeutic action of AG in hormone-responsive neoplasms.
 ...
PMID:Preservation of androgen secretion during estrogen suppression with aminoglutethimide in the treatment of metastatic breast carcinoma. 698 9

Central (central nervous system and pituitary) aromatization appears to be a fundamental process for endocrine control and development. Metabolism of androgens to estrogens and the subsequent metabolism of estrogens have been proven in many species, including humans, and linked to estrogen action. Thus, aromatization appears to initiate or to be involved in activities of importance to endocrine function at the central level and their effects peripherally. In the context of breast cancer, central aromatization relates to the control of gonadotrophins and other pituitary-brain hormones which may effect metabolism at the level of the breast. For example, follicle-stimulating hormone can increase aromatization and may be a factor in the control of such metabolism in breast tissue.
 ...
PMID:Aromatase in the central nervous system. 708 85

Menstrual activity is dependent on a critical body weight and may, therefore, be modified by nutritional factors. Lower plasma levels of testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and prolactin, and differences in gonadotrophin levels were found during the menstrual cycle in rural black South African versus white women. When premenopausal vegetarian South African black women were fed a Western diet, plasma testosterone and prolactin levels increased, while estradiol decreased and follicle-stimulative hormone increased. In postmenopausal black women a similar diet decreased plasma leutinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone and increased prolactin levels. Differences between white and black women eating their customary diets may be related to genetic factors and/or lifestyle and diet. However, a Western diet induced changes in hormonal activity in vegetarian black women. These changes in hormonal levels in black women were comparable to those found in women with menstrual irregularities. Further study is needed to determine whether the difference in hormonal activity during the menstrual cycle between vegetarian black and white women may in part explain the lower incidence of coronary heart disease and breast cancer in the former.
 ...
PMID:Diet, lifestyle, and menstrual activity. 738 8

The influence of a diet containing soy protein on the hormonal status and regulation of the menstrual cycle was examined in six premenopausal women with regular ovulatory cycles. Soy protein (60 g containing 45 mg isoflavones) given daily for 1 mo significantly (P < 0.01) increased follicular phase length and/or delayed menstruation. Midcycle surges of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were significantly suppressed during dietary intervention with soy protein. Plasma estradiol concentrations increased in the follicular phase and cholesterol concentrations decreased 9.6%. Similar responses occur with tamoxifen, an antiestrogen undergoing clinical trial as a prophylactic agent in women at high risk for breast cancer. These effects are presumed to be due to nonsteroidal estrogens of the isoflavone class, which behave as partial estrogen agonists/antagonists. The responses to soy protein are potentially beneficial with respect to risk factors for breast cancer and may in part explain the low incidence of breast cancer and its correlation with a high soy intake in Japanese and Chinese women.
 ...
PMID:Biological effects of a diet of soy protein rich in isoflavones on the menstrual cycle of premenopausal women. 766 Nov 28

Medical ovariectomy with goserelin is an alternative to surgical oophorectomy. To evaluate the relationship between tumor regression and endocrine changes induced by therapy, 40 premenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer were given 3.6 mg of goserelin subcutaneously fortnightly for the first 4 doses and every 28 days thereafter. We have made a particular analysis of the clinical and endocrine profile of responsive patients. Objective responses were observed in 17 of the 38 evaluable patients (45%), 6 cases achieving complete remission. Serum estradiol was suppressed in castrated women, although there was a tendency towards an increase in serum follicle-stimulating hormone over time. No statistically significant difference was observed in the hormonal profiles of patients experiencing a complete or partial response. Our experience confirms that goserelin is as effective as oophorectomy and that there is a clear correspondence between clinical response and drug-induced estrogen suppression.
 ...
PMID:Goserelin in premenopausal advanced breast cancer: clinical and endocrine evaluation of responsive patients. 819 9

A phase I study was performed of CGS 20267, an oral nonsteroidal, highly potent, and selective aromatase inhibitor, in 21 postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer. The patients were recruited in 3 successive groups of 7, receiving 0.1, 0.5, and 2.5 mg p.o./day, respectively. All patients had received at least one prior endocrine treatment (range, 1-4), and six patients had received prior chemotherapy. The treatment was very well tolerated, and no toxicity was seen at any of the three doses. There was a statistically significant suppression of estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) levels by 74% and 79% from baseline levels, respectively (P < 0.0001). Suppression occurred in all three patient groups, with many patients having serum concentrations of estradiol and estrone, which were below the limit of detection of the assays (3 and 10 pM, respectively), which corresponds to a maximum measurable estrogen suppression of 86%. CGS 20267 had no significant effect on serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, cortisol, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and aldosterone. Seven (33%, 95% confidence interval, 15-57%) of the 21 patients have responded to treatment (one complete remission, 6 partial remissions according to criteria of the Union Internationale contre le Cancer), and 6 are still responding to CGS 20267 (duration of response; 4+, 6+, 6+, 9+, 9, 12+, and 12+ months). Five have had stable disease for more than 3 months, and 9 had progressive disease. These results suggest that CGS 20267 is a very potent and specific aromatase inhibitor, and phase II studies are now required to confirm its clinical efficacy.
 ...
PMID:Phase I study of the oral nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor CGS 20267 in postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer. 841 19


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>