Estrogen and androgen receptors as comediators of breast cancer cell proliferation: providing a new therapeutic tool.

Hypothesis: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) comediates breast cancer progression via estrogen receptors (ERs) and androgen receptors (ARs).

Design: Breast cancer cells that were ER positive-AR positive or ER negative-AR positive were pretreated with anastrozole, tamoxifen citrate, or bicalutamide, then stimulated with 228 microM DHEA-S.

Setting: University Surgical Oncology Research Laboratory.

Serum peptide profiles in patients with carcinoid tumors.

Background: Patterns of elevated serum peptides may reveal additional markers and permit better classification of tumors based on (secondary) peptide secretion.

Methods: Fasting peptide profiles were obtained from 31 carcinoid patients. vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), pancreatic polypeptide (PP), neurotensin, substance P, gastrin-releasing polypeptide (GRP), calcitonin, gastrin, and pancreastatin were measured.

The effect of high dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels on tamoxifen blockade and breast cancer progression.

Background: We investigated the stimulatory potential of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) on tamoxifen-treated cells and assessed its effect on cancer progression in the adjuvant setting.

Methods: Mean serial serum levels of sex hormones from 44 patients receiving tamoxifen were correlated with follow-up status. T-47D (ER+/PR+) and HCC1937 (ER-/PR-) breast cancer cells were pretreated with 100 microM anastrozole, with or without tamoxifen, and stimulated with 22.

The impact of hormone replacement therapy on the detection and stage of breast cancer.

Hypothesis: Patients who receive hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and subsequently develop breast cancer are more likely to be diagnosed by palpation than mammography and have a higher stage of cancer at initial diagnosis.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: University hospital.