The hormonal milieu in primary breast cancer: A correlation between steroid receptors and serum estradiol, progesterone and prolactin

Background and Aim: The female breast is subjected to a life time of hormonal controls, whose effect is evident at the time of menarche and during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and lactation. Studies have reported multiple risk factors for breast cancer, some of which are a reflection of hormonally mediated events. The steroid receptors are also served as prognostic factors for evaluating the status of malignant tumor of the breast. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) formation are influenced by estrogen and progesterone concentration. The aim of this study was to clarify the hormonal milieu of the breast cancer such as Estradiol (E2), Progesterone (Pg), Prolactin (PRL) and their correlation with prognostic factors like ER, PgR. Methods: In this study, we examined fourthy-four samples removed from patients with primary breast cancer by radical mastectomy. The specimens include thirty six malignant and eight benign breast tissues. Blood samples were also obtained before surgery. Steroid receptors was assayed by the method of single-point dextrane-coated charcoal (DCC), hormones by radioimmunoassay. Results: The results demonstrated that serum prolactin was higher in patients with benign and malignant tumors than that of normal (progesterone < 0.05). It has been observed that the frequency of PgR+ tumors was higher in patients with serum E2 more than 10 pg/ml than those of less than 10 pg/ml; whereas, when comparison was made between the patients with serum Pg > 1.5 ng/ml and those of < 1.5 ng/ml, it was found that the frequency of PgR+ tumors was lower in the formers than the latters ones. Conclusion: It can be concluded that estrogen, up-regulated and progesterone down-regulate the induction of PgR and the breast tumors probably produce high levels of prolactin.