Abstract
Context
Adipose tissue is an important site for extragonadal steroid hormone biosynthesis through the expression and activity of P450 aromatase, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) 1, and 17β-HSDs. The contribution of steroid hormones produced by adjacent adipose tissue for the progression and survival of breast tumors is unknown.
Objective
To quantify estrogens (estradiol, estrone) and glucocorticoids (cortisol, cortisone) in breast adipose tissue from both healthy and diseased women and their relationships with adiposity indices and breast cancer prognostic markers.
Design and setting
Breast adipose tissue was collected at time of surgery.
Patients
Pre- and postmenopausal women undergoing partial mastectomy for treatment of breast cancer (n = 17) or reduction mammoplasty (n = 6) were studied.
Interventions
Relative estrogen and glucocorticoid amounts were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Results
The targeted steroids were reliably detected and quantified in mammary adipose tissues. Women with ER+/PR+ tumor had higher relative estradiol amount than women with ER–/PR– tumor (P < .05). The ratio of estradiol-to-estrone was higher in lean women than in women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 (P < .05). Mixed-model analyses showed that estradiol, cortisone, and cortisol were negatively associated with tumor size (P < .05). Relationships between glucocorticoids and tumor size remained significant after adjustment for BMI. The cortisol-to-cortisone ratio was negatively associated with tumor stage (P < .05) independently of BMI.
Conclusions
We reliably quantified estrogens and glucocorticoids in breast adipose tissue from healthy women and women suffering from breast cancer. Our findings suggest that smaller breast tumors are associated with higher relative amounts of estradiol and cortisol in adipose tissue.
Alpha-tocopherol and hydroperoxide content in breast adipose tissue from patients with breast tumors
