CONCENTRATIONS OF ESTRONE, ESTRADIOL AND THEIR SULFATES, AND EVALUATION OF SULFATASE AND AROMATASE ACTIVITIES IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST FIBROADENOMA

In the present studies, the concentrations (mammary tissue and plasma) of estrone (E(1)), estradiol (E(2)) and their sulfates (E(1)S and E(2 )S), as well as the sulfatase and aromatase activities, were evaluated in patients with breast fibroadenomas. Comparative studies of the eva luation of these parameters were carried out in: (A) tumor tissue, (B) areas surrounding the tumor and (C) areas distant from the tumor (gla ndular tissue) considered as normal tissue. The concentrations in the tumor tissue (in pmol/g tissue) of E(1), E(2) and E(1)S were significa ntly higher (2-3 times) than in the area of the breast considered as n ormal. Sulfatase and aromatase activities were found in the breast fib roadenoma tissue. Sulfatase activity was much higher than aromatase (3 0-150 times) and sulfatase levels were significantly higher in the fib roadenoma tissue than in the area considered as normal. Plasma evaluat ion of E(1), E(2), E(1)S and E(2)S concentrations showed no significan t differences in relation to those of healthy control women. In conclu sion, the high levels of estrogens and their sulfates, as well as the enzymes involved in estrogen formation - sulfatase and aromatase in br east fibroadenoma - contribute to the hypothesis that this disease may be hormone-dependent. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.