[Endocrinology of mastopathy and small breast cancer]

The role of hormones in the cancerogenesis of breast cancer is still discussed. It is not clear at the moment if sexual hormones are primarily or secondarily in wall in cancerogenesis. Beside the discussion it is clear that estrogen, progesterone, androgens, prolactin and thyroxin have influences on the physiology and pathophysiology of the breast tissue. Furthermore the isoforms of these hormones and also the sexual hormone, binding-protein could be of interest. At last also the receptor evaluation becomes of interest in the etiology and therapy of breast cancer.