Sex hormones as regulators of levels of growth factors in tissues of multiple primary tumors of female reproductive organs.

Abstract

e23180 Background: Sex hormones are known to be able to influence the synthesis of growth factors in breast and uterine tumors; however, their relationship in multiple primary tumors is poorly studied. The purpose of the study was to analyze correlations between sex steroids and growth factors in tissues of solitary and synchronous breast cancer and uterine myoma. Methods: Levels of estrogens (E1, E2, E3), 2OHE1 and 16α-OHE1, Р4, VEGА and EGF were measured by ELISA in tissues of breast cancer (BC, n = 37), uterine myoma (n = 27) and in synchronous BC and uterine myoma (n = 36). Results: Strong positive correlations were observed in synchronous BC and uterine myoma: E3 with VEGF (r1= 83, r2= 79; p1,2< 0.05) and EGF (r1= 78, r2= 82; p1,2< 0.05), Е1 with VEGF ( r1= 81, r2= 77; p1,2< 0.05) and EGF (r1= 76, r2= 80; p1,2< 0.05), 16-OHE1 with VEGF and EGF (r1= 80, r2= 77; p1,2< 0.05 and r1= 79 r2= 80; p1,2< 0.05). We found strong negative correlations of Е3 and VEGF (r1= 80, r2= 77; p1,2< 0.05) and EGF (r1= 79 r2= 80; p1,2< 0.05), Р4 and VEGF (r1= - 81, r2= -79; p1,2< 0.05) and EGF (r1= - 77, r2= -80; p1,2< 0.05). Solitary breast tumors showed moderate positive correlations of E2 and E1 with VEGF (r1= 56, r2= 63; p1,2< 0.05) and EGF (r1= 61, r2= 65; p1,2< 0.05) and a moderate negative correlation between VEGF and EGF and Р4 (r1= - 61, r2= -59; p1,2< 0,05). A strong negative correlation of EGF with Е1 and 16-OHE1 (r1= -79, r2= -76; р1,2< 0.05) was registered in uterine myoma. Conclusions: Tissues of synchronous primary breast tumors and uterine myoma had similar correlations between levels of growth factors and sex hormones. Solitary breast tumors and uterine myoma showed correlations typical of the tumor type. Thus, expression of growth factors in multiple primary tumors, but not in solitary ones, is subject to a clearly determined regulatory role of sex steroids and their metabolites.