Open AccessHuman 3 β ‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in human breast cancer: clinical significance and prognostic associations
Author(s) -
Hanamura Toru,
Ito Tokiko,
Kanai Toshiharu,
Maeno Kazuma,
Shimojo Yasuyo,
Uehara Takeshi,
Suzuki Takashi,
Hayashi Shinichi,
Ito Kenichi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.708
Subject(s) - breast cancer , medicine , endocrinology , dihydrotestosterone , immunohistochemistry , hormone , cancer , estrogen receptor , androgen , estrogen , testosterone (patch) , androgen receptor , steroid hormone , biology , cancer research , prostate cancer
Active sex steroids including estrogens and androgens are locally produced from circulating inactive steroids by various steroid‐metabolizing enzymes, and play pivotal roles in the progression of hormone‐dependent breast cancers. Human 3 β ‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (3 β ‐ HSD type 1) is a critical enzyme in the formation of all classes of active steroid hormones, and is also involved in the inactivation of potent androgen dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ). Therefore, this enzyme is suggested to modulate active sex steroid production or inactivation, with a role in hormone‐dependent breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of 3 β ‐ HSD type 1 in human breast cancer. Using immunohistochemistry ( IHC ), we evaluated 3 β ‐ HSD type 1 expression in 161 human breast cancers and analyzed correlations of 3 β ‐ HSD type 1 expression with various clinicopathological factors. Of 161 breast cancer cases, 3 β ‐ HSD type 1 expression in cancer cells was detected in 119 cases (73.9%), and was positively correlated with estrogen receptor (ER)‐positivity but not HER ‐2 status. In ER ‐positive cases ( n = 130), 3 β ‐ HSD type 1 expression was inversely correlated with invasive tumor size ( P = 0.0009), presence of invasive region ( P = 0.0107), and lymphatic involvement ( P = 0.0004). 3 β ‐ HSD type 1 expression was significantly associated with decreased risk of recurrence or improved prognosis by both univariate ( P = 0.0003 and P = 0.009, respectively) and multivariate ( P = 0.027 and P = 0.023, respectively) analyses. Our findings indicate that this enzyme is a prognostic factor in hormone‐dependent breast cancer.