Aromatase activity in breast tissue

Abstract

Aromatase activity may be detected both in breast adipose tissue and breast cancer in levels similar to or greater than those in other peripheral tissues. Factors influencing such local biosynthesis have been sought. Of 247 primary breast cancers investigated, 178 showed evidence of oestrogen biosynthesis. No significant relationships were found between either the presence or levels of activity and tumour histopathology, patient characteristics (such as age and menopausal status), disease stage and prognosis (determined by disease-free interval and survival after primary treatment). Aromatase was more likely to be found in cellular cancers and those which were oestrogen receptor-positive, but these were not absolute associations, activity being detected in tumours with all degrees of cellularity and both receptor-positive and receptor-negative cancers. However, in a small group of patients with metastatic oestrogen receptor-positive tumours, response to the aromatase inhibitor, aminoglutethimide, seemed confined to tumours with aromatase activity. Oestrogen biosynthesis was detected in all specimens of breast adipose tissue examined. Activities were higher in fat from breast cancer patients compared with that from women with benign breast disease. In breasts with cancer, levels were higher in quadrants bearing tumour compared with those without evidence of malignancy. It is suggested that either enhanced aromatase in breast fat promotes the appearance of overt cancer or tumour factors induce aromatase in surrounding fat. Finally, although no significant correlations were detected in postmenopausal women between local aromatase activity and endogenous oestrogens in breast cancer, perfusion studies show that in situ oestrogen biosynthesis is primarily responsible for oestrogen levels in the majority of breast tissues. These data suggest that local aromatase activity may influence events within the breast and may be associated with the natural history and progression of certain malignancies.