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Query: UMLS:C0476089 (endometrial cancer)
 11,379 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

An understanding of the basic mechanisms of hormone action is becoming an important part of a clinician's training. With the advent of radioreceptor assays and their comparison with radioimmunoassays, we are becoming increasingly aware that the normal physiological function of a hormone is not necessarily dependent on "normal" levels of hormone being present in the plasma. Even if plasma levels are normal, if a particular target cell lacks the receptor for the particular hormone the target tissue will not respond to the hormone. It has been shown, for example, by many workers that steroid hormones act on their cells via a receptor located in the cytoplasm of the target cells (1-4). Since the presence or absence of such receptors are becoming increasingly important in terms of unexplained infertility, endometrial carcinoma and breast cancer, it is necessary that the practicing clinician be familiar with the concept of receptors and have some understanding of their mode of action. In this brief presentation, I will explain certain terminology and summarize the state of the art so that you can critically read the literature concerning new developments in the area of hormone action which is to become increasingly important in the next few years. I will discuss some of the aspects of the mechanism of peptide hormones such as LH and FSH but will devote most of my attention discussing the details of steroid hormone action since our knowledge in this area is much more complete. I will also explain the terms frequently discussed in the literature concerned with hormone-receptor interactions.
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PMID:Hormone-receptor interactions--basic mechanisms. 1 18

Toremifene is a triphenylethylene derivative structurally and pharmacologically similar to tamoxifen. This Phase I trial assessed the safety, pharmacokinetics, anti-estrogenic, and estrogenic effects of toremifene at six dose levels (10, 20, 40, 60, 200, and 400 mg/day). The most common side-effects associated with therapy included gastrointestinal (nausea/vomiting 43%), anti-estrogenic (hot flashes 29%), and CNS (dizziness/vertigo 12%). Three patients with bone metastases from breast cancer developed hypercalcemia. At doses greater than or equal to 40 mg/day a decline in LH and FSH occurred which was not statistically significant. At all doses tested SHBG rose during therapy. A dose dependent estrogenic blockade was seen on the vaginal epithelium following challenge with transdermal estradiol. Steady-state concentrations of toremifene were reached within 4 weeks, and at doses greater than or equal to 60 mg/day ranged from 879-3445 ng/ml. The half-life was found to be 5 days, and at three weeks following discontinuation of treatment concentrations greater than 24 ng/ml were detected. The N-desmethyl and 4-hydroxy metabolites achieved steady state levels within 4 weeks and had half-lives of 6 and 5 days respectively. Partial responses were seen in 4 patients, 3 with breast cancer treated at 200 mg/day and 1 with endometrial cancer treated at 400 mg/day.
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PMID:Phase I study of the tolerance and pharmacokinetics of toremifene in patients with cancer. 214 80

Diabetic women may have an increased risk of developing endometrial carcinoma. Ovarian and adrenal activity seem to be factors in the genesis of this cancer. We have measured serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free and bound fractions of estrogens and androgens, and gonadotropins in 20 consecutive postmenopausal insulin-treated diabetic women and 16 normal postmenopausal women. The diabetics were nonketoacidotic, without nephropathy and without proliferative retinopathy. The groups were comparable regarding age and percent ideal body weight. The diabetic group had significantly increased serum levels of estrone (P less than 0.001), estrone sulfate (P less than 0.05), 17 beta-estradiol (P less than 0.02), and SHBG (P less than 0.001). Levels of testosterone, delta 4-androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate tended to be higher (not significantly) in the diabetics. FSH and LH levels were similar in the two groups, while serum PRL was significantly lower in the diabetic group (P less than 0.02). The hormonal changes in the diabetics were not related to control of the diabetes. We conclude that total estrogen levels are increased in postmenopausal women with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus. High SHBG levels in these patients tend to keep the free fractions of sex hormones within normal limits.
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PMID:Androgens and estrogens in postmenopausal insulin-treated diabetic women. 267 38

A radioimmunoassay was conducted in the pituitary-ovary and pituitary-adrenals systems in 37 cases of endometrial carcinoma before treatment and 1, 3, 5 and 14 days after extirpation of the uterus and adnexa. The levels of follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) hormones of the pituitary, prolactin, ACTH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and aldosterone were studied. Such disturbances as decreased production of FSH, LH, progesterone and testosterone were observed before operation. Surgery was followed by a considerable rise in prolactin production and basal levels of FSH and LH, a decrease in estradiol, progesterone and testosterone concentrations and was accompanied by a sizeable release of cortisol and aldosterone.
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PMID:[Hormonal status of patients with uterine cancer during surgical treatment]. 282 Jan 50

In the blood of 39 women with endometrial carcinoma the FSH, LH, estrone, androstendion, estradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone were determined by the RIA method. Compared to the control group the estrone (303.3 +/- 44.3 pmol/l), estradiol (165.2 +/- 29.4 pmol/l) and the androstendion (5.24 +/- 0.44 nmol/l) were significantly higher. The source of the increased estrogen levels was mainly of adrenal origin. The peripheral conversion, i.e. aromatization of androstendion into estrone was particularly marked in the case of adipose patients. The unbalanced estrogen effect in the absence of progesterone is one of the decisive factors in the etiology of endometrial carcinoma.
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PMID:Endocrine factors in the etiology of endometrial carcinoma. 294 90

Gestrinone (R 2323) is a synthetic progestogen, and noteworthy agent for endometriosis treatment. The effect of this reagent on cultured cells from porcine granulosa, human endometrial and endometrial carcinoma origin was investigated concerning their hormonal activities and cell proliferations. Also, the effect of gestrinone on the serum levels of gonadotropins and gonadal steroids in patients with XY gonadal dysgenesis (Swyer's syndrome) and uterine myoma was studied. The monolayer cell colony established from the endometrial tissue fragments was positively stained by PAS similar to the secretory phase endometrium by 10 ng/ml gestrinone in the culture media. Endometrial carcinoma cells from a 65-year-old patient were proliferated by gestrinone at the concentration of 50 ng/ml in the culture media. The effect of gestrinone on the secretions of progesterone and estradiol-17 beta with or without hCG/testosterone from the cultured porcine granulosa cells was also investigated. Progesterone secretions were stimulated at the 50 ng/ml concentration of gestrinone, especially in association with hCG. Nonetheless, at the concentration of 500 ng/ml, those were inhibited. The secretions of estradiol-17 beta were stimulated by this reagent both with and without testosterone in dose-dependent manners. The effect of 25 mg gestrinone administration for 3 days on the levels of LH, FSH, progesterone and estradiol-17 beta in a patient with XY gonadal dysgenesis was as follows. Both LH and FSH levels gradually decreased, whereas estradiol-17 beta level was increased. The same dosage of this reagent was administered to a patient with uterine myoma on her menstrual days 7, 8, and 9.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[The effect of a synthetic progestin (R 2323) on gonadal and endometrial cells in vitro and in vivo]. 385 23

Thirteen postmenopausal women with benign endometrial changes including proliferative, secretory and polypous endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia and atypia (group I) and 13 randomly selected age-matched controls with normal atrophic endometrium (group II) were studied with respect to serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and its sulfate (DHAS), testosterone, total estrone, estradiol-17 beta, progesterone, FSH and prolactin. Serum levels of DHA, DHAS, testosterone and total estrone were significantly higher in group I than in group II; otherwise no significant differences were found. Mean values for body weight and for Broca's index, respectively, were almost identical in the two groups. It is speculated that the adrenal androgens may affect the endometrium in two ways, viz. via peripheral conversion to estrogens and/or via direct interaction with endometrial steroid receptors. The results give further support to the hypothesis of an association between adrenocortical hyperactivity and endometrial abnormalities including endometrial carcinoma.
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PMID:Peripheral hormone levels and the endometrial condition in postmenopausal women. 622 73

The Authors compared the mean LH, FSH, PRL, E1, E2, Testosterone, Androstenedione plasmatic levels in a group of post-menopausal women affected by endometrial carcinoma (EK), with those of a control group presenting clinical characteristics as close as possible to those of the pathologic group. The case series was significant. They found no significant difference between the two groups' hormonal levels. On the other hand, E1 levels were found to increase along-side with obesity. In patients affected by EK, E1 plasma levels significantly increased alongside with the post-menopausal age. Conversely, in the control group, this hormonal value significantly and progressively decreased from the menopause onwards. Furthermore, the Authors studied the effects of surgical intervention on the hormonal picture in EK bearers.
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PMID:Profiles and endocrine correlations in endometrial carcinoma. 640 36

Twenty-four patients with endometrial carcinoma received tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for 7 days. Before and after administration, circulating hormones (estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, gonadotropins FSH and LH) were evaluated. Estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) in neoplastic tissue were also assayed. Our results show a net increase in PgR content and a significant decrease in gonadotropin levels after the treatment. The authors suggest that clinical trials be conducted using tamoxifen and progestins for adjuvant therapy after surgery of endometrial carcinoma and for the therapeutic approach of advanced carcinoma.
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PMID:Hormonal and receptor status in postmenopausal women with endometrial carcinoma before and after treatment with tamoxifen. 642 17

The endocrinological function of the ovary during and after curative intracavitary high dose-rate irradiation has been studied by determining the peripheral plasma levels of P, E1, E2, FSH, LH and PROL in 8 patients aged 37 +/- 7 yr (+/- SD). In addition, the concentrations of E1 and E2 in ovarian venous blood during the estimated ovulatory phase after irradiation were determined. The functional structure of the ovary was studied histochemically using 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and ultrastructurally and histologically with routine methods. The results during and after irradiation were compared to those before irradiation. In addition, 28 postmenopausal patients were used as controls. At the end of the irradiation course, which lasted from the premenstrual to the ovulatory phase, 3 out of 4 patients with cervical carcinoma had normal plasma P levels; the menstrual cycles of these patients was previously ovulatory. The normal P levels as well as a rise in E1 and E2 concentrations indicate ovulation. During the next menstrual cycle these values and the E2/E1 ratio in peripheral venous blood decreased and the levels of FSH and LH rose to the postmenopausal values. In patients with endometrial carcinoma, the menstrual cycle was anovulatory both before and after radiotherapy; in estrogen and gonadotrophin levels, similar changes were observed as in patients having ovulatory cycles. In ovarian venous blood, the E2 plasma levels and the E2/E1 ratios were in both groups significantly higher at the time of the second potential ovulatory phase than the corresponding postmenopausal values. As in the postmenopausal women, both E1 and E2 levels in irradiated patients were higher in ovarian effluent blood than peripherally. The ovarian/cubital E1 ratios did not differ between these groups. For E2, this ratio was, however, significantly higher in irradiated patients than in postmenopausal controls. The morphological findings--both by light and electron microscopy--as well as the enzyme-histochemical studies support the chemical results reflecting a decreased yet significant estrogen production in the ovaries after irradiation.
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PMID:Ovarian function during and after curative intracavitary high dose-rate irradiation: steroidal output and morphology. 681 57


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