[The hormonal status indices and the risk of breast cancer]

A case control study was carried out to assess relationship between certain hormonal indexes and risk of breast cancer. In premenopausal patients, blood plasma level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was significantly higher while those of albumin-binding (bioavailable) and free estradiol were lower than in controls. No statistically significant difference in hormonal status parameters was established between menopausal patients and menopausal controls. However, concentrations of total, free and albumin-binding estradiol tended to be higher in breast cancer supporting the relationship between exposure of breast tissue to plasma free estradiol and risk of breast cancer. Unlike healthy females, menopausal breast cancer patients showed a decrease in SHBG level and a rise in free and albumin-binding estradiol concentration with age. SHBG level was inversely related to weight and Quetelet's index; however, the tendency reached statistical significance in the reproductive age group only.