Body Composition, Gynecologic-Obstetric Variables, and Prolactin Levels in Patients with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine body composition, gynecological, and obstetric data, sex hormones, and prolactin serum levels in pre- (PREW) and postmenopausal women (PMW) with breast cancer (BC) and compare them with a control group (CG) of healthy women. Methodology : BC patients without treatment or use of hormone replacement therapy, or hormonal birth control, and without data of metastasis were included. CG w as matched for age, BMI, and menstrual cycle status. FSH, LH, E 2 , progesterone, testosterone, and prolactin (PRL) were measured using radioimmunoassay kits. Comparisons between BC and CG were made with “ t ” tests, and with the Mann-Whitney U - test; χ 2 test was used to compare the qualitative variables between the groups. Results : Seventy-two patients with BC, and 74 CG women were evaluated. Both groups presented overweight data, BMI (kg/mt 2 ) = 27.21 ± 5.51 vs. 28.40 ± 4.66, p = ns, for BC patients and CG, respectively. In PREW, the age at menarche was later in BC patients compared to the CG (13.3 ± 1.36 years vs. 12.41 ± 1.27 years, p = 0.005). The PMW with BC presented a higher age at menarche and menopause compared to the women of the CG (13.51 ± 1.48 vs. 12.91 ± 1.41, p = 0.09, and 49.03 ± 2.86 vs. 45.5 ± 8.78, p = 0.03, respectively). PRL levels were significantly higher in PMW with BC, in comparison with the CG; median and minimum and maxi mum values (min-max) were: 14.7 ng/mL (3.6 - 52.7) vs. 5.9 ng/mL (1.9 - 33.3), p = 0.005). A higher percentage of PMW with BC (26.0% vs. 7.1%, χ 2 = 5.57, p = 0.01) presented hyperprolactinemia (PRL serum levels > 20 ng/mL), com pared to the GC. Conclusions : The higher levels of PRL in PMW with BC compared with CG, suggest a proliferative effect of this hormone in the affected breast tissue. This study demonstrates the need to use biological markers such as PRL to determine the risk of BC in PMW.