Evaluating the association between some fertility hormones and breast cancer progression in postmenopausal women

Background: In postmenopausal women, this study aimed to evaluate serum levels of reproductive-related hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and progesterone (PRG)) in the progression of breast cancer (BC). Methods: The profile of these hormones was measured in 100 postmenopausal BC patients and 40 age-matched healthy women. Results: There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the serum level of PRG, PRL, LH and FSH hormones between patients and controls. There was no significant association between levels of PRL and PRG and BC advanced features. In contrast, results revealed that both FSH and LH serum levels (µIU/mL; expressed as median) were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the BC progression and worse outcomes, including tumor late stages (25.3 vs. 13.1 for FSH; 12.4 vs. 8.2 for LH), lymph node invasion (23.4 vs. 13.2 for FSH; 11.5 vs. 6.4 for LH), high grades (24.9 vs. 13.7 for FSH; 11.5 vs. 6.9 for LH), large size (23.4 vs. 11.3 for FSH; 12.5 vs. 5.1 for LH), negative estrogen (28.4 vs. 14.9 for FSH; 12.5 vs. 9.4 for LH) and progesterone (18.7 vs. 18.9 for FSH; 10.2 vs. 10.0 for LH) receptor status. Moreover, both FSH and LH were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (r = 0.508, r = 0.263, respectively) and cancer antigen (CA) 15.3 (r = 0.439, r = 0.271, respectively). Conclusions: Elevated levels of serum FSH and LH seems to be implicated in BC aggressiveness behaviour. Although this needs more investigations, this finding may provide relevant information about the role of these gonadotrophins as therapeutic targets owing to their action in BC progression.

Breast cancer; FSH; LH; Severity; Worse outcomes

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