Aromatization

Bone metastasis will impact most men with advanced prostate cancer. The vicious cycle of bone degradation and formation driven by metastatic prostate cells in bone yields factors that drive cancer growth. Mechanistic insights into this vicious cycle have suggested new therapeutic opportunities, but complex temporal and cellular interactions in the bone microenvironment make drug development challenging. We have integrated biologic and computational approaches to generate a hybrid cellular automata model of normal bone matrix homeostasis and the prostate cancer-bone microenvironment...

Tamoxifen is currently established as the endocrine treatment of choice in breast cancer. In advanced breast cancer, response rates of up to 60% in women with oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumours have been reported. In early breast cancer, tamoxifen can produce significant benefits, both statistically and clinically, in terms of reduction in relative risk of relapse or death in all patient subgroups (i.e. ER status, aged < or > 50 years) except premenopausal women with ER-negative tumours. The major benefit, however, is seen in women over 50 years old with ER-positive tumours...

About 80% of all breast cancers are oestrogen sensitive. Patients operated for breast cancer treated with tamoxifen or aromase inhibitors (AI) have a lower incidence of contralateral breast cancer. Based on this knowledge, prophylactic studies comparing tamoxifen with placebo have found a 30% reduction in breast cancer. Unacceptably many women developed endometrium cancer or thromboembolic side-effects in the tamoxifen group. Prophylactic studies have been initiated in recent years comparing AI with placebo...

PURPOSE: The NSABP (National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project) B-24 study demonstrated significant benefit with adjuvant tamoxifen in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) after lumpectomy and radiation. Patients were enrolled without knowledge of hormone receptor status. The current study retrospectively evaluated the relationship between receptors and response to tamoxifen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) were evaluated in 732 patients with DCIS (41% of original study population)...

CONTEXT: The key role of serum estradiol (E2) for bone health in men is well established. The effect of serum sex steroids on bone microstructure, measured by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography, remains unknown in elderly men. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the associations between serum sex steroids and bone microstructural parameters in older men. METHODS: Trabecular and cortical bone microstructure at the tibia was measured by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography in 440 men (mean 80 y of age) participating in the population-based Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Sweden cohort...

Gynecomastia (GM) is characterized by enlargement of the male breast, caused by glandular proliferation and fat deposition. GM is common and occurs in adolescents, adults and in old age. The aim of this review is to discuss the pathophysiology, etiology, evaluation and therapy of GM. A hormonal imbalance between estrogens and androgens is the key hallmark of GM generation. The etiology of GM is attributable to physiological factors, endocrine tumors or dysfunctions, non-endocrine diseases, drug use or idiopathic causes...