Abstract
Most discussions on the role of oestrogens and progestins in the development of cancer of the breast and endometrium adopt the general attitude that oestrogens are bad and progestins good. This view is based on several types of evidence. Oestrogens are mitogenic, a process that can in some (Ferenczy et al., 1979; Martin, 1980) but not all (Finn and Martin, 1970) cases be blocked by progestins. As cell multiplication is an essential, albeit insufficient component of carcinogenesis, it follows that oestrogens should be viewed with suspicion. More concrete evidence comes from the proven ability of oestrogens to produce tumours in both experimental animals and man (IARC, 1979; Lingemann, 1979). As a first approximation the idea of good and bad hormones is acceptable provided one acknowledges the existence of exceptions. Probably the best documented example is the induction of mammary tumours in Beagle bitches by certain progestins (El Etreby and Neumann, 1980). Another example concerns the natural progestin, progesterone. This steroid decreases the incidence of DMBA-induced rat mammary tumours if given after the carcinogen, as anticipated from the generalisation made above but increases tumour incidence if given beforehand (Dao, 1964). The latter example also tells us that when discussing the role of hormones in tumour production the multistage nature of the disease must be acknowledged and hormone effects defined according to that stage.
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© 1981 Institute of Biology Endowment Trust Fund
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King, R.J.B. (1981). Effects of female sex hormones on human endometrium in relation to neoplasia. In: Lewis, G.P., Ginsburg, M. (eds) Mechanisms of Steroid Action. Biological Council The Co-ordinating Committee for Symposia on Drug Action. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-81345-2_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-81345-2_4
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