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The distribution of oestradiol in plasma from postmenopausal women with or without breast cancer: Relationships with metabolic clearance rates of oestradiol
Author(s) -
Reed M. J.,
Beranek P. A.,
Cheng R. W.,
Ghilchik M. W.,
James V. H. T.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910350407
Subject(s) - sex hormone binding globulin , breast cancer , endocrinology , medicine , free fraction , globulin , postmenopausal women , menopause , albumin , hormone , cancer , chemistry , pharmacokinetics , androgen
The distribution of oestradiol in plasma from post‐menopausal women with or without breast cancer has been measured and related to the metabolic clearance rates of oestradiol (MCR‐E2). All measurements were carried out preoperatively. No difference in the free fraction of oestradiol was found between women with breast cancer (1.8 ± 0.4%, mean ± sd) and normal women (1.6 ± 0.3%). Approximately 40% of oestradiol in plasma was bound to albumin with 60% bound to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), but values were similar for women with or without breast cancer. Concentrations of total unconjugated oestradiol and free oestradiol (2.4 ± 0.5 ng/100 ml and 44 ± 12 pg/100 ml respectively, mean ± sd, n = 9) were significantly higher in plasma from postmenopausal women with breast cancer compared with levels in plasma from normal postmenopausal women (1.8 ± 0.5 ng/100 ml and 27 ± 10 pg/100 ml, n = 8). A significant correlation was found between the free oestradiol fraction and MCR‐E2 (r = 0.53, p < 0.05). Correlations were also found between the fractions of oestradiol bound to albumin and MCR‐E2 (r = 0.45). From correlations between the binding capacity of SHBG and MCR‐E2 it appears that, for a given level of SHBG, MCR‐E2 may be higher in women with breast cancer.