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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
12:31
An Ex vivo Model to Study Hormone Action in the Human Breast
Published on: January 8, 2015
Androgens and the breast
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. b.vonschoultz@karolinska.se
Maturitas
|March 28, 2007
Summary
Androgens may play a role in women's health, but long-term safety and breast cancer risk are unclear. Testosterone therapy might counteract estrogen's effects on breast cell growth, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Women's Health
Background:
- Growing interest exists in androgen use for women's health, yet long-term safety data, particularly concerning breast cancer risk, are limited.
- Some evidence suggests androgens may oppose the proliferative effects of estrogen and progestogen in breast tissue.
- Mammographic breast density and breast cell proliferation are recognized as surrogate markers for breast cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of androgens, specifically testosterone, in modulating breast tissue characteristics relevant to cancer risk.
- To examine the effects of testosterone therapy on surrogate markers of breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing observations and recent findings regarding androgen and estrogen/progestogen effects on breast cell proliferation.
- Analysis of surrogate markers for breast cancer risk, including mammographic breast density and cell proliferation rates.
Main Results:
- Recent studies indicate that adding testosterone to estrogen/progestogen therapy can inhibit hormone-stimulated breast cell proliferation.
- The specific effects of testosterone monotherapy on the postmenopausal breast remain largely uncharacterized.
Conclusions:
- Testosterone may have a protective or counteracting effect against estrogenic stimulation in the breast.
- Further research is essential to elucidate the long-term safety and efficacy of testosterone therapy in women, particularly concerning breast cancer risk.
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