Tryptophan metabolism and corticosteroids in breast cancer.

Abstract

Urinary excretion of tryptophan metabolites, free cortisol, and corticosteroid sulfates, and plasma cortisol were determined in 30 breast cancer patients. Although, as a group, the patients with abnormal tryptophan metabolism excreted significantly higher levels of both free cortisol and corticosteroid sulfates than those with normal metabolism, there was no good correlation between urinary tryptophan metabolite excretion and the corticoids. Abnormal tryptophan metabolism was not accompanied by a high plasma cortisol. Patients with widespread metastases had elevated tryptophan metabolite excretions compared to those with early breast cancer or local recurrence, but the two groups did not differ in their plasma or urinary corticosteroid levels. It is concluded that increased adrenocorticosteroid secretion due to stress is not a major factor in producing abnormal tryptophan metabolism in breast cancer.