Concentrations of estrone, estradiol and their sulfates, and evaluation of sulfatase and aromatase activities in patients with breast fibroadenoma

In the present studies, the concentrations (mammary tissue and plasma) of estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and their sulfates (E1S and E2S), as well as the sulfatase and aromatase activities, were evaluated in patients with breast fibroadenomas. Comparative studies of the evaluation of these parameters were carried out in: (A) tumor tissue, (B) areas surrounding the tumor and (C) areas distant from the tumor (glandular tissue) considered as normal tissue. The concentrations in the tumor tissue (in pmol/g tissue) of E1, E2, and E1S were significantly higher (2–3 times) than in the area of the breast considered as normal. Sulfatase and aromatase activities were found in the breast fibroadenoma tissue. Sulfatase activity was much higher than aromatase (30–150 times) and sulfatase levels were significantly higher in the fibroadenoma tissue than in the area considered as normal. Plasma evaluation of E1, E2, E1S and E2S concentrations showed no significant differences in relation to those of healthy control women. In conclusion, the high levels of estrogens and their sulfates, as well as the enzymes involved in estrogen formation—sulfatase and aromatase in breast fibroadenoma—contribute to the hypothesis that this disease may be hormone‐dependent. Int. J. Cancer 70:639–643, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.