Skip to main content
Log in

Androgen metabolism and apocrine differentiation in human breast cancer

  • Report
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Metabolism of (7α-3H) testosterone has been measured in 111 human breast cancers and compared retrospectively with the degree of apocrine differentiation in the tumors. Cancers in which apocrine characteristics were a marked feature metabolized significantly more testosterone precursor than those in which apocrine features did not predominate. Higher metabolism was accounted for by increased conversion to 5α-reduced products such as 5α-dihydrotestosterone and 5α-androstanediols.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Jenkins JS, Ash S: Metabolism of testosterone by human breast tumours. Lancet ii: 513–515, 1972

    Google Scholar 

  2. Miller WR, McDonald D, Forrest APM, Shivas AA: Metabolism of androgens by human breast tissue. Lancet i: 912–913, 1973

    Google Scholar 

  3. Abul-Hajj YJ: Metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone by hormone dependent and hormone independent human breast carcinoma. Steroids 26: 488–500, 1975

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Miller WR, Shivas AA, Forrest APM: Factors affecting testosterone metabolism by human breast tissues. Clin Oncol 4: 477–85, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  5. Fahmy D, Griffiths K, Turnbull AC, Symington T: A comparison of the metabolism in vitro of 7α3H dehydroepi-androsterone and 4-14C pregnenolone by tissue from a hilus cell tumour of the ovary. J Endocrinol 41: 61–68, 1968

    Google Scholar 

  6. Miller WR, Forrest APM, Hamilton T: Steroid metabolism by human breast and rat mammary carcinomata. Steroids 23: 379–395, 1974

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Krompecher E: Über Schweissdrusenzysten der Brustdruse und Krebse. Verh Dtsch Ges Pathol 16: 365–369, 1913

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lee BJ, Pack GT, Schwargel I: Sweat gland cancer of the breast. Surg Gynecol Obstet 56: 975–993, 1933

    Google Scholar 

  9. Higginson JF, McDonald JR: Apocrine tissue, chronic cystic mastitis and sweat gland carcinoma of the breast. Surg Gynecol Obstet 88: 1–10, 1949

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wald M, Kakular BA: Apocrine gland carcinoma (sweat gland carcinoma) of the breast. Aust NZ J Surg 33: 200–204, 1964

    Google Scholar 

  11. Frable WJ, Kay S: Carcinoma of the breast: histologic and clinical features of apocrine tumours. Cancer 21: 756–763, 1967

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fisher ER, Gregorio RM, Fisher B: The pathology of invasive breast cancer. Cancer 36: 1–83, 1975

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Azzopardi JG: Problems in Breast Pathology. Saunders, London 1979, 341–344

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mossler JA, Barton TK, Brinkhous AD, McCarty KS Sr, Moylen JA, McCarty KS Jr: Apocrine differentiation in human mammary carcinoma. Cancer 46: 2463–2471, 1980

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Haagensen CD, Bodian C, Haagensen DE: Breast Carcinoma: Risk and Detection. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1981, pp 83–105

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mazoujian G, Pinkus GS, Davis S, Haagensen DE: Immunohistochemistry of a gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP-15) of the breast: a marker of apocrine epithelium and breast carcinomas with apocrine features. Am J Pathol 110: 105–112, 1983

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Eusebi V, Betts C, Haagensen DE, Gugliotta P, Bussolati G, Azzopardi JG: Apocrine differentiation in lobular carcinoma of the breast: a morphologic, immunologic and ultrastructural study. Hum Pathol 15: 134–140, 1984

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wilson JD: Recent studies on the mechanism of action of testosterone. New Eng J Med 287: 1284–1291, 1972

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hay JB, Hodgins NB: Metabolism of androgens in vitro by human facial and axillary skin. J Endocrinol 59: 475–486, 1973

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Labows JN, Preti G, Hoelzle E, Leyden J, Kligman A: Steroid analysis of human apocrine secretion. Steroids 34: 249–258, 1979

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Haagensen DE, Mazoujian G: Relationship of glycoproteins in human breast cystic disease fluid to breast carcinoma.In Angeli A, Bradlow HL, Dogliotti L (eds): Endocrinology of Cystic Breast Disease. Raven Press, New York, 1983, pp 149–168

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wales NAM, Ebling FJ: The control of the apocrine glands of the rabbit by steroid hormones. J Endocrinol 51: 763–770, 1971

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Huggins C, Mainzer K: Hormonal influence on mammary tumours of the rat. II. Retardation of growth of a trans-Planted fibroadenoma in intact female rats by steroids in the androstane series. J Exptl Med 105: 485–500, 1957

    Google Scholar 

  24. McIndoe JH: Estradiol formation from testosterone by continuously cultured human breast cancer cells. J Clin andocrinol Metab 49: 272–277, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  25. Thijssen JHH, Poortman J, Schwartz F: Androgens in postmenopausal breast cancer: Excretion, production and interaction with estrogens. J Steroid Biochem 6: 729–734, 1975

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Schiodt T: Breast Carcinoma. Munksgaard, Copenhagen, 1966, p 69. (cites Geschickter and Haagensen).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Miller, W.R., Telford, J., Dixon, J.M. et al. Androgen metabolism and apocrine differentiation in human breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Tr 5, 67–73 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01807652

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01807652

Keywords

Navigation