Abstract
The literature findings on endogenous hormonal profiles in women with breast cancer are reviewed in detail. It is concluded that four sets of findings are valid: (1) diminished adrenal androgen production, probably genetic, in women with premenopausal breast cancer; (2) ovarian dysfunction (luteal inadequacy plus increased testosterone production) in breast cancer at all ages; (3) increased 16α-hydroxylation of estradiol in breast cancer at all ages; and (4) evidence that prolactin is a permissive risk factor for breast cancer, and that the pregnancy-induced decrease in prolactin levels may account for the protective effect of early pregnancy against breast cancer.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 751-772 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1994 |
| Externally published | Yes |