Abstract
The precise place of local estrogen production in mammary cancer is still controversial. In this investigation localization of aromatase (the key enzyme of estrogen biosynthesis) was studied in breast cancer tissue by immunohistochemical method using polyclonal rabbit antibodies. The cytoplasmic staining was found in different cell types, but the most intensive specific staining was found in malignant cells and it was stronger (P<0.01) in postmenopausal patients than in patients of reproductive age.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Adams JB, Li K (1975) Biosynthesis of 17β-oestradiol in human breast carcinoma tissue and a novel method for its characterization. Br J Cancer 31:429–433
Berstein L, Larionov A, Kyshtoobaeva A, Pozharisski K, Semiglazov V (1994) The role of cellular substrate in aromatase activity of breast cancer tissue. In: Abstracts of the 1st Baltic Congress on Oncology and Radiology, Tallinn: A54
Bezwoda WR, Mansoor N, Esser JD (1987) Aromatization of androstenedione by human breast cancer tissue: correlation with hormone receptor activity and possible biologic significance. Oncology 44:30–33
Bolufer P, Ricart E, Lluch AC, Rodriguez A, Ruiz A, Llopis F, Garcia-Conde J, Romero R (1992) Aromatase activity and estradiol in human breast cancer: its relationship to estradiol and epidermal growth factor receptors and to tumor-node-metastasis staging. J Clin Oncol 10:438–446
Bradlow HL (1982) A reassessment of the role of breast tumor aromatization. Cancer Res 42 [Suppl]: 3382s-3386s
Esteban JM, Warsi Z, Haniu M, Hall P, Shively JE, Chen S (1992) Detection of intratumoral aromatase in breast carcinomas. Am J Pathol 140:337–343
James VHT, McNeill J M, Newton CJ, Ghil chik MV, Reed MJ (1987) Aromatase activity in normal breast and breast tumor tissues: in vivo and in vitro studies. Steroids 50:269–279
Landeghem AAJ van, Poortman J, Nabuurs M, Thijssen JHH (1985) Endogenous concentration and subcellular distribution of estrogens in normal and malignant human breast tissue. Cancer Res 45:2900–2905
Longcope C (1982) Methods and results of aromatization studies in vivo. Cancer Res 42 [Suppl]:3307s-3311s
Lu O, Nakamura J, Savinov A, Brodie A (1995) Evidence of aromatase expression and proliferation in human breast cancers. In: Abstracts of the Endocrine Society (USA) 77th Annual Meeting. Washington, DC: P2-655
Miller WR (1991) Aromatase activity in breast tissue. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 39:783–790
Miller WR, Forrest APM (1976) Oestradiol synthesis from C19 steroids by human breast cancers. Br J Cancer 33:116–118
Perel E, Stolle KH, Kharlip L, Blackstein ME, Killinger DW (1984) The intracellular control of aromatase activity by 5α-reduced androgens in human breast carcinoma cells in culture. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 58:467–472
Reed MJ, Singh A, Ghilchik MW, Goldham NG, Purohit A (1991) Regulation of oestradiol 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in breast tissues: the role of growth factors. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 39:791–798
Santen RJ, Leszczynski D, Tilson-Mallet N, Feil PD, Wright C, Manni A, Santner SJ (1986) Enzymatic control of estrogen production in human breast cancer: relative significance of aromatase versus sulfatase pathways. Ann NY Acad Sci 464:126–137
Santen RJ, Martel J, Hoagland M, Naftolin F, Roa L, Harada N, Hafer L, Zaino R, Santner SJ (1994) Stromal spindle cells contain aromatase in human breast tumors. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 79:627–632
Sasano N, Nagura H, Harada N, Goukon Y, Kimura M (1994) Immunolocalization of aromatase and other steroidogenic enzymes in human breast disorders. Hum Pathol 25:530–535
Siiteri PK (1982) Review of studies on estrogen biosynthesis in the human. Cancer Res 42 [Suppl]:1269s-1273s
Silva MC, Rowlands MJ, Dowsett M, Gusterson B, McKinna JA, Fryatt I, Coombes RC (1989) Intra-tumoral aromatase as a prognostic factor in human breast carcinoma. Cancer Res 49:2588–2591
Simpson ER, Mendelson CR (1987) Effect of aging and obesity on aromatase activity of human adipose cells. Am J Clin Nutr 45:290–295
Varela RM, Dao TL (1978) Estrogen synthesis and estradiol binding by human mammary tumors. Cancer Res 38:2429–2433
Vermeulen A, Deslypere J P, Paridaens R, Leclercq G, Roy F, Heuson JC (1986) Aromatase, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and intratissular sex hormone concentrations in cancerous and normal glandular breast tissue in postmenopausal women. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 22:515–525
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berstein, L.M., Larionov, A.A., Kyshtoobaeva, A.S. et al. Aromatase in breast cancer tissue — localization and relationship with reproductive status of patients. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 122, 495–498 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01187162
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01187162