Centro Regional de Investigaciones Cientificas Y Tecnologicas / Universidad Nacional de Cuyo
Abstract
C2- and C4-position 17β-estradiol metabolites play an important role in breast carcinogenesis. 2-Hydroxyestradiol and 4-hydroxyestradiol are implicated in tumorigenesis via two pathways. These pathways entail increased cell proliferation and the formation of reactive oxygen species that trigger an increase in the likelihood of deoxyribonucleic acid mutations. 2-Methoxyestradiol, a 17β-estradiol metabolite, however, causes induction of apoptosis in transformed and tumor cells; thus exhibiting an antiproliferative effect on tumor growth. The 4-hydroxyestradiol:2- methoxyestradiol and 2-hydroxyestradiol:2-methoxyestradiol ratios therefore ought to be taken into account as possible indicators of carcinogenesis.This work was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council of South Africa (AG374, AK076), the Cancer Association of South Africa (AK246) and the Struwig-Germeshuysen Cancer Research trust of South Africa (AJ038, AN074)
