Relation of serum levels of estrogen and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to hormone receptor status among postmenopausal women with breast cancer

摘要

Background: It is hypothesized that breast cancer may consist of heterogeneous diseases with different hormonal environments classified by hormone receptor status. Epidemiologic studies evaluating risk factors for breast cancer by hormone receptor status have supported the hypothesis. However, there are inconsistencies in the risk factor profiles by estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) across the studies. To clarify the heterogeneity of the disease, it is necessary to understand not only risk factor profiles but also the biologic characteristics such as the relationships among endogenous sex hormone levels and hormone receptors.