Histochemistry of estrogen sulfatases in human breast diseases

Two estrogen sulfatases, arylsulfatase C-estrone sulfatase (ASC-ES) and d-equilenin sulfatase (EqS) were demonstrated histochemically in the normal human female breast, in benign breast diseases and in infiltrating mammary ductal carcinomas to study their significance in the pathogenesis of epithelial proliferations. By hydrolyzing estrone sulfate, the amount of which in female blood is about ten times greater than that of estradiol or estrone, estrogen sulfatases can produce a high local concentration of estrogens. A simultaneous azo-coupling method for histochemical demonstration of ASC-ES is described in the present study; EqS was demonstrated by a previously described method. Estrogen sulfatases were not found in the normal female breast. Both estrogen sulfatases were found in epithelial cells in some examples of mastopathic disease and in fibroadenomas, while ASC-ES was found in periductal fibroblasts. In some cases of infiltrating ductal carcinomas, estrogen sulfatases were present in carcinoma cells. In most of these tumors ASC-ES activity was observed in fibroblasts around infiltrative cell cords. There was no correlation between the presence of estrogen sulfatases and of hormone receptors in carcinomas. It is concluded that estrogen sulfatases play no role in the early stages of benign or malignant epithelial proliferations. However, the induction of estrogen sulfatases may promote epithelial proliferation in some cases if estrogen receptors are present in epithelial cells.