[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.

[Fatty acid composition of phospholipids of erythrocyte membranes and risk of breast cancer].

Five fatty acids, two saturated--palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), and three unsaturated--oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:2) and arachidonic (C20:4) were assayed in red cell membranes of breast cancer patients and healthy controls. No significant difference in the levels of saturated fatty acids was established between the two groups, although mean values were somewhat lower in cancer patients. Mean levels of unsaturated fatty acids were also lower in breast cancer patients, with the difference being significant for arachidonic acid in postmenopausal women.