[Hormonal-metabolic status of cancer patients with late-onset menopause]

Late-onset of menopause is a marker of risk factor for neoplasia in the reproductive system and, conversely, anti-risk for certain non-infectious diseases, such as cardio-vascular disease or osteoporosis. We studied 118 postmenopausal patients with early endometrial and breast cancers. The investigation was particularly concerned with hormonal-metabolic status versus age at menopause age at. While a Quetelet index/age was irrelevant, blood cholesterol and insulin (120 min) concentrations and tumor estrogen/progesterone receptor ratios were relatively higher in the late-onset group ((52 yrs). This group showed a correlation with age at menopause while the other one--with its duration. Insulin/body weight ratios were higher in the late-onset group while LH/FSH--lower. Hence, patients of the same age but differing in age at menopause age at may show differences in hormonal-metabolic status as well. This feature may be significant in identifying both biological distinctions of associated tumors and their clinical course.