estrone-sulfate and Fibrocystic-Breast-Disease

Women with gross cystic breast disease may have an increased risk of breast cancer. In this study the ability of breast cyst fluid (BCF), obtained from British or Hungarian women, to modulate oestrone sulphate (E1S) formation or hydrolysis, has been examined. For this, oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 (ER-) breast cancer cells were employed. The formation and hydrolysis of E1S was measured using radiometric techniques. BCF from British and Hungarian women mainly inhibited E1S hydrolysis in MCF-7 cells while stimulating hydrolysis in MDA-MB-231 cells. The extent of inhibition or stimulation of E1S hydrolysis in these cells was related to the Na+/K+ ratio of the BCF. There was a significant inverse relationship between the extent to which BCF samples inhibited hydrolysis in MCF-7 cells and stimulated it in MDA-MB-231 cells. BCF stimulated E1S formation in MCF-7 cells while inhibiting formation in MDA-MB-231 cells. No difference in the ability of BCF from British or Hungarian women to inhibit or stimulate E1S hydrolysis was detected in ER+ or ER- breast cancer cells. In contrast, BCF from British women stimulated E1S formation in ER+ cells (median 82%) to a significantly greater extent (P < 0.01) than BCF from Hungarian women (median 33%). The role that E1S has in breast cancer development remains unclear. The greater stimulation of E1S formation by BCF from British women, who have a higher risk of breast cancer than Hungarian women, suggests that it may act as a storage form of oestrogen within cells that can be activated by oestrone sulphatase.

Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Cyst Fluid; Estrogens; Estrone; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Hungary; Hydrolysis; United Kingdom

Fibrocystic disease of the breast manifesting palpable cysts express breast cyst fluids frequently containing estrogen sulfates at concentrations far exceeding those found in sera of the patient. The study explored the potential of the breast cyst to synthesize some of these estrogen sulfates. Deuterated estrone and estradiol were synthesized and either (estradiol, 4 cases or estrone, 2 cases) was injected into a cyst. The cyst was aspirated at approximately 0, 4 and 8 h, the target being 1 ml, 50% and complete aspiration respectively. Metabolites were purified sequentially by ether extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis of estrogen conjugates, chromatography on Sephadex LH 20 and identified by gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry. The unconjugated fraction isolated from the ether extract was subjected to the same purification and detection scheme. Among the conjugates, deuterated estrone sulfate was the major metabolite of either precursor in all studies, while estradiol sulfate was not detected in any of the 6 experiments. The sulfate fractions also yielded traces of 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (2 studies), 4-hydroxyestrone (4 studies) and 2-hydroxyestrone (1 study). In the unconjugated fraction, one study with deuterated estradiol, 4- hydroxyestrone was obtained. In one study with deuterated estrone, traces of 2-hydroxyestrone and 16alpha- hydroxyestrone were obtained. These novel data are significant because patients with fibrocystic disease are at slightly elevated risk for developing breast cancer and 16alpha-hydroxyestrone and 4- hydroxyestrone are reported carcinogens.

Topics: Arylsulfotransferase; Biopsy, Needle; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Deuterium; Estradiol; Estrone; Exudates and Transudates; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; Time Factors

Human breast cyst fluid (BCF) contains an esterase that on the basis of electrophoretic mobility and response to inhibitors differs from those found in the plasma. From a total of 384 BCF samples analyzed for esterase using p-nitrophenyl hexanoate as substrate, 149 (39%) showed significant activity. The samples had been analyzed for the concentrations of the sulfates of estrone, estriol, dehydroepiandrosterone, as well as the potassium and sodium cations (K+/Na+). The data were submitted to statistical analysis using the Spearman rank order test. The esterase-positive samples exhibited a significant positive association with each of the steroid sulfates and the K+/Na+ ratios. Except for protein concentration, there was no significant correlation between the esterase-positive and esterase-negative cysts. These observations may have physiological significance in that high K+/Na+ ratio cysts have been related to the histological status of the cyst.

Topics: Biomarkers; Body Fluids; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Esterases; Estriol; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Potassium; Sodium; Steroids; Sulfates

In 28 breast cyst fluids obtained from 20 patients (age 29-65 years) sodium, potassium and the sulfates (S) of estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androsterone (A) were determined. The radioimmunoassays (RIA) used were validated for this particular biological fluid. According to electrolyte ratio (Na+/K+) the cyst fluids were subdivided into two groups: the first with low (less than 3) (n = 16) and the other with high (greater than 3) (n = 12) values. Markedly higher steroid sulfate levels were observed in the first group, the mean levels being: 147.7 nmol/l, 54.6 nmol/l, 108.1 mumol/l and 158.0 mumol/l for E1S, E2S, DHEAS and AS respectively. The mean levels in the second group were: 13.6 nmol/l, 6.7 nmol/l, 68.8 mumol/l and 33.6 mumol/l for E1S, E2S, DHEAS and AS, respectively. In the first group only E1S and E2S levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.51; P less than 0.05). Conversely, the steroid sulfate levels were significantly correlated with each other in the group with high electrolyte ratio. These data have confirmed preceding results and have clearly shown that breast cyst fluids with low electrolyte ratio contain more E2S than the other group. This finding might be correlated with the fact that patients with these breast cysts lined by with apocrine epithelium may be at a greater risk of breast cancer than those with the other type.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Androsterone; Body Fluids; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Estradiol; Estrone; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Middle Aged

Gross cystic disease (GCD) of the breast imparts a minimal risk for the development of breast cancer. Relative to serum, breast cyst fluid (BCF) in patients with GCD is highly concentrated in androgens, estrogens, certain enzymes, and bioactive polypeptides. In addition, the cations, sodium and potassium, vary markedly and inversely in BCF. We have focused on the levels of estriol-3-sulfate (E3S), which are several orders of magnitude greater in BCF than in blood. In this preliminary study, about 55 specimens of BCF were analyzed for E3S, its possible precursors, estrone sulfate (E1S) and dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), and the cations, sodium and potassium. The data were analyzed statistically by linear regression analysis. E3S correlated directly with both E1S and DHAS (p less than 0.002), and inversely with the Na/K ratio (p less than 0.003). Low Na/K ratio has been associated with secretory processes in cyst epithelium. The data suggest that E3S may originate via 16 alpha-hydroxylation of estrogen in the cyst and that elevated E3S levels may be indicative of a secretory epithelium. This is part of an ongoing prospective study involving 400 subjects with GCD to see whether hormonal and enzymic profiles can be related to cancer risk.

Topics: Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; Bile Acids and Salts; Biopsy, Needle; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Estriol; Estrone; Exudates and Transudates; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Potassium; Sodium; Steroid 16-alpha-Hydroxylase; Steroids

Plasma and cyst fluid were obtained from patients with palpable breast cysts and analysed for androgen conjugates and oestrone sulphate content by radioimmunoassay. Concentrations of androgen conjugates in cyst fluids varied from 15.6 to 475.5 mumols/l. These levels were much greater than those in plasma (1.3-5.2 mumols/l) and there was no association between values in cyst aspirates and plasmas obtained from the same individuals. Levels of oestrone sulphate in breast cyst fluids (1.5-744.0 nmol/l) were also generally in excess of those in plasma (2.0-59.9 nmol/l) and again no relationship was evident between concentrations in cyst fluid and the circulation. Neither was there a relationship between levels of androgen conjugate and oestrone sulphate in plasma. In contrast, a highly significant correlation (P less than 0.001) was identified between the androgen conjugate and oestrone sulphate content of cyst fluids. Levels of both androgen conjugates and oestrone sulphate were also significantly different in groups of cysts subdivided according to electrolyte classification, cysts with low Na+:K+ ratios having higher steroid concentrations than those with high Na+:K+ ratios. The biological significance of the relationship between the two conjugates in cyst fluids remains unclear but it is suggested that the accumulation of these steroids involves a common mechanism.

Topics: Androgens; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Estrone; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Potassium; Sodium

Topics: Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Exudates and Transudates; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Potassium; Sodium

Oestrone sulphate, the oestrogen in highest concentration in the plasma, may play a role in the induction and growth of breast cancers. By enzymolysis and radioimmunoassay, oestrone sulphate concentrations were measured in 3 biological fluids. High concentrations of the conjugate (up to 775 nmol/l) were detected in breast cyst fluids from some premenopausal women, the concentrations in blood plasma (0.91-4.45 nmol/l) being much lower. Concentrations in the plasmas from postmenopausal women with (0.23-4.63 nmol/l) or without (0.18-1.27 nmol/l) breast cancer were still lower. Oestrone sulphate concentration in cow's milk or cream (0.49-0.67 nmol/l) was also low: dietary intake in these fluids is probably of little consequence. The capacity of breast tissues for hydrolysis of oestrone sulphate was examined in two ways: In tissue slices incubated with 85 pM (3H) oestrone sulphate solution at 37 degrees C, cancers (131-412 fmol/g tissue/hr) and adipose tissues (23-132 fmol/g tissue/hr) hydrolysed significantly more sulphate than did benign tissues (1-36 fmol/g tissue/hr). In tissue homogenates incubated with 5-25 microM [3H] oestrone sulphate at 37 degrees much higher capacities for hydrolysis (nmol/g tissue/hr) were demonstrated with a Km of 2-16.5 microM: cancers (34-394) and benign tissues (9-485) had significantly higher sulphatase activities than adipose tissues (9-39). On a protein basis, however, the sulphatase activities in the 3 tissues were comparable. It is concluded that oestrone sulphate is present in breast cysts and blood plasma and that in vitro, the conjugated hormone can be hydrolysed by breast tissues. The biological significance of these findings in vivo remains to be established.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animals; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Cattle; Estrone; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Hydrolysis; Menopause; Milk; Radioimmunoassay