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. 1993 Aug;68(2):393–398. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1993.347

Plasma and urinary oestrogens in breast cancer patients on treatment with 4-hydroxyandrostenedione.

D C Johannessen 1, H Adlercreutz 1, T Fotsis 1, P E Lønning 1
PMCID: PMC1968556  PMID: 8135918

Abstract

Plasma and urinary oestrogens were measured in nine breast cancer patients (eight postmenopausal women and one man) before and during treatment with the aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione. Urinary oestrogens were measured by using a highly specific GC-MS method. Plasma levels of oestrone, oestradiol and oestrone sulphate were suppressed by 66.6% (+/- 3.6%), 57.7% (+/- 5.1%) and 51.8% (+/- 6.4%) respectively (P < 0.005 for all). Twenty-four hour urinary excretion of total oestrogens, oestradiol, oestriol, 2-hydroxyoestrone, 16 alpha-hydroxyoestrone and the minor metabolites 16 beta- and 15 alpha-hydroxyoestrone were all suppressed by mean values ranging from 60% to 82%, (oestradiol: P < 0.025, otherwise P < 0.005). There were no significant changes in the ratios between the different plasma oestrogens. The finding of sustained plasma and urinary oestrogens at 20-40% compared to their control levels indirectly support a hypothesis of alternative oestrogen sources in postmenopausal breast cancer patients on treatment with 4-hydroxyandrostenedione.

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Selected References

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