HORMONAL PROFILES IN WOMEN WITH BREAST-CANCER

The literature findings on endogenous hormonal profiles in women with breast cancer are reviewed in detail. It is concluded that four sets o f findings are valid: (1) diminished adrenal androgen production, prob ably genetic, in women with premenopausal breast cancer; (2) ovarian d ysfunction (luteal inadequacy plus increased testosterone production) in breast cancer at all ages; (3) increased 16alpha-hydroxylation of e stradiol in breast cancer at all ages; and (4) evidence that prolactin is a permissive risk factor for breast cancer, and that the pregnancy -induced decrease in prolactin levels may account for the protective e ffect of early pregnancy against breast cancer.