Adrenal androgens and human breast cancer : A new appraisal

• Published in: Breast cancer research and treatment Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 183 - 188
• Main Author: ADAMS, J. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.09.1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - blood; Age Factors; Androgens; Androgens - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Breast Neoplasms - etiology; Cancer research; Cell growth; Estradiol - blood; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Postmenopause; Risk Factors; Tumors; Human; Androgen; Pathogenesis; Estrogen; Androstenediol; Malignant tumor; Mammary gland diseases; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; Adrenal hormone; Female; Mammary gland; Androstenedione; Sex steroid hormone; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 0167-6806; 1573-7217
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006050720900

A clearer picture of the role of adrenal androgens in the etiology of breast cancer is beginning to emerge. Women who develop breast cancer in premenopausal years tend to have subnormal serum levels of adrenal androgens, while subjects who develop the disease in postmenopausal years have supranormal levels of these hormones. Androgens, by acting via the androgen receptor, oppose estrogen-stimulated cell growth in premenopausal years. In postmenopausal women, elevated adrenal androgen levels stimulate cell growth by the action of the unique adrenal androgen 5-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol, also termed hermaphrodiol, via its combination with the estrogen receptor in a hormone milieu lacking, or having low concentrations of, the classical estrogen 17beta-estradiol.