Progesterone androstenedione testosterone and clinical characteristics in endometrial carcinoma

Serum concentrations of progesterone (P), androstenedione (A) and testosterone (T) were measured in 128 postmenopausal women with endometrial adenocarcinoma. The correlations between these hormones were studied and related to such clinical parameters as: stage, histopathology, age, gynaecological history, body mass index and related diseases. In previous studies we have shown the relations between oestron (E1) and oestradiol (E2) serum concentration and clinical parameters. A clear correlation was seen between E1 and E2. Both E1 and E2 also strongly correlated with BMI. In this study androstenedione is found to correlate with E1 and E2, p less than 0.03 and p less than 0.02 resp. Progesterone and E1 were correlated, p less than 0.01, but not P and E2. Testosterone correlated with E1, p less than 0.002, E2, p less than 0.003 and A, p less than 0.02. None of the hormones P, A or T correlate with BMI. Androstenedione and age, and A and menopausal years showed a negative correlation, p less than 0.01 for both. Testosterone correlated with menopausal years, p less than 0.03; and correlated negatively with years of menstruation, p less than 0.03. These results do not support the hypothesis that A is the exclusive precursor for conversion to E1 in fat tissue. The correlation between P and E1 could indicate a relation to steroids higher up in the synthesis chain. The influence of P, A and T on the investigated clinical factors can not be strong, since correlations are virtually missing.