Open AccessAbnormal oxidative metabolism of estradiol in women with breast cancer.
Author(s) -
Jill Schneider,
David W. Kinne,
Alfred A. Fracchia,
Virginia K. Pierce,
Karl E. Anderson,
H. Leon Bradlow,
Jack Fishman
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.79.9.3047
Subject(s) - estriol , breast cancer , metabolism , oxidative metabolism , oxidative phosphorylation , alpha (finance) , endocrinology , medicine , estrogen , population , cancer , hydroxylation , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , surgery , enzyme , construct validity , environmental health , patient satisfaction
The three dominant oxidative biotransformations of estradiol were examined in 10 normal women and 33 females with breast cancer by using a recently devised radiometric method. Estradiol tracers, labeled with 3H specifically in the 17 alpha, C-2, or 16 alpha position, were used to measure both the rate and extent of 17 beta-ol oxidation (the initial metabolic step) and the subsequent 2- and 16 alpha-oxidative reactions. The mean +/- SEM values for the extent of extradiol metabolism at these three specific sites for the extent of estradiol metabolism at these three specific sites were 76.9 +/- 5.3%, 31.1 +/- 4.0%, and 9.3 +/- 0.8%, respectively in normal subjects. Corresponding data in patients with breast cancer--i.e., 73.0 +/- 4.2%, 32.7 +/- 2.7%, and 14.9 +/- 1.5%--revealed a significantly greater extent of 16 alpha-hydroxylation in the latter population. Because the 16 alpha-hydroxylated compounds (including estriol) are themselves potent estrogens, these changes may have important hyperestrogenic consequences that could have a bearing on the etiology of the disease.