Changes in serum sex steroid levels during megestrol acetate therapy

R. F. Pommier; E. A. Woltering; W. S. Fletcher

doi:10.1016/0960-7404(94)90074-4

Changes in serum sex steroid levels during megestrol acetate therapy

R. F. Pommier, E. A. Woltering, W. S. Fletcher

Surgery

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

We hypothesized that megestrol acetate (MA) may work on breast carcinoma by inducing changes in serum sex steroid levels. We prospectively measured levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estrone (E₁), and estradiol (E₂) in 18 postmenopausal women before and during megestrol acetate therapy. MA significantly suppressed serum FSH, LH, DHEA and E₁ levels. However, this was accompanied by a marked increase in serum E₂ levels as measured by radioimmunoassay performed on whole serum. MA did not cross-react with the anti-E₂ antibodies used in the assay. Elevated E₂ levels also occurred in oophorectomized and/or adrenalectomized patients indicating the ovary and adrenal are not the source of the elevated E₂ levels. We conclude that MA may be metabolized to oestrogenic compounds that crossreact with antibodies to E₂, explaining the elevated E₂ levels observed. The effects of these oestrogenic metabolites on breast carcinoma are unknown.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	351-359
Number of pages	9
Journal	Surgical Oncology
Volume	3
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-7404(94)90074-4
State	Published - Dec 1994

Keywords

breast neoplasms
hormone therapy
megestrol acetate
neuroendocrine axis
radioimmunoassay
sex steroids

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Surgery
Oncology

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10.1016/0960-7404(94)90074-4

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title = "Changes in serum sex steroid levels during megestrol acetate therapy",

abstract = "We hypothesized that megestrol acetate (MA) may work on breast carcinoma by inducing changes in serum sex steroid levels. We prospectively measured levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estrone (E1), and estradiol (E2) in 18 postmenopausal women before and during megestrol acetate therapy. MA significantly suppressed serum FSH, LH, DHEA and E1 levels. However, this was accompanied by a marked increase in serum E2 levels as measured by radioimmunoassay performed on whole serum. MA did not cross-react with the anti-E2 antibodies used in the assay. Elevated E2 levels also occurred in oophorectomized and/or adrenalectomized patients indicating the ovary and adrenal are not the source of the elevated E2 levels. We conclude that MA may be metabolized to oestrogenic compounds that crossreact with antibodies to E2, explaining the elevated E2 levels observed. The effects of these oestrogenic metabolites on breast carcinoma are unknown.",

keywords = "breast neoplasms, hormone therapy, megestrol acetate, neuroendocrine axis, radioimmunoassay, sex steroids",

author = "Pommier, {R. F.} and Woltering, {E. A.} and Fletcher, {W. S.}",

year = "1994",

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doi = "10.1016/0960-7404(94)90074-4",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "351--359",

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AU - Pommier, R. F.

AU - Woltering, E. A.

AU - Fletcher, W. S.

PY - 1994/12

Y1 - 1994/12

N2 - We hypothesized that megestrol acetate (MA) may work on breast carcinoma by inducing changes in serum sex steroid levels. We prospectively measured levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estrone (E1), and estradiol (E2) in 18 postmenopausal women before and during megestrol acetate therapy. MA significantly suppressed serum FSH, LH, DHEA and E1 levels. However, this was accompanied by a marked increase in serum E2 levels as measured by radioimmunoassay performed on whole serum. MA did not cross-react with the anti-E2 antibodies used in the assay. Elevated E2 levels also occurred in oophorectomized and/or adrenalectomized patients indicating the ovary and adrenal are not the source of the elevated E2 levels. We conclude that MA may be metabolized to oestrogenic compounds that crossreact with antibodies to E2, explaining the elevated E2 levels observed. The effects of these oestrogenic metabolites on breast carcinoma are unknown.

AB - We hypothesized that megestrol acetate (MA) may work on breast carcinoma by inducing changes in serum sex steroid levels. We prospectively measured levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estrone (E1), and estradiol (E2) in 18 postmenopausal women before and during megestrol acetate therapy. MA significantly suppressed serum FSH, LH, DHEA and E1 levels. However, this was accompanied by a marked increase in serum E2 levels as measured by radioimmunoassay performed on whole serum. MA did not cross-react with the anti-E2 antibodies used in the assay. Elevated E2 levels also occurred in oophorectomized and/or adrenalectomized patients indicating the ovary and adrenal are not the source of the elevated E2 levels. We conclude that MA may be metabolized to oestrogenic compounds that crossreact with antibodies to E2, explaining the elevated E2 levels observed. The effects of these oestrogenic metabolites on breast carcinoma are unknown.

KW - breast neoplasms

KW - hormone therapy

KW - megestrol acetate

KW - neuroendocrine axis

KW - radioimmunoassay

KW - sex steroids

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Changes in serum sex steroid levels during megestrol acetate therapy

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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