Free estradiol in postmenopausal women with and without endometrial cancer

Abstract

To assess the role of biologically active estradiol in the development of endometrial cancer, 25 patients with endometrial tumors and a similar number of control subjects matched for age and body size were studied. No differences between the 2 groups were found for levels of total estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), non-SHBG-bound estradiol, and absolute free estradiol. Body size correlated positively with levels of total, non-SHBG-bound, and absolute estradiol and negatively with SHBG levels. The obese postmenopausal women had higher total circulating levels and proportionally greater concentrations of free estradiol than nonobese subjects, suggesting a dual risk for the cellular action of circulating estradiol. These factors could contribute to the association of obesity and the occurrence of this tumor in susceptible women.