Urinary and plasma androgens and their relation to familial risk of breast cancer

Abstract

The urinary excretion of androsterone, aetiocholanolone and dehydroepiandrosterone has been measured in 87 daughters and 39 sisters of women with breast cancer. Also 175 women who had no known family history of breast cancer were studied. Similarly, plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DS) and androsterone sulphate (AS) were determined in 52 sisters and 55 daughters of women with breast cancer. There were 290 control women. The urinary excretion of aetiocholanolone was significantly lower (P < 0·05) in young sisters ( 30–40 years) compared to controls. Similarly, the age-adjusted geometric mean level of androsterone was lower (P < 0·05) in unaffected sisters compared to controls. No significant differences were found between daughters of breast cancer patients and controls for any of these urinary steroids. Neither was the general level of dehydroepiandrosterone different for any of the groups studied. The results for plasma DS and AS were similar to those for androsterone and aetiocholanolone. Thus the age-adjusted geometric mean level of DS and AS for sisters of breast cancer patients was significantly lower than that for controls (P < 0·025 and P < 0·005, respectively). There were no significant differences in the concentration of these steroids between daughters and controls. The main difference between unaffected sisters and controls appears to occur in the youngest age group studied ( 30–40 years). These results demonstrate an association between increased risk of breast cancer due to familial history and altered endocrine function.