[The hormonal status indices and the risk of breast cancer]. / Nekotorye pokazateli gormonal'nogo statusa i risk raka molochnoi zhelezy.

A case control study was carried out to assess relationship between certain hormonal indexes and risk of breast cancer. In premenopausal patients, blood plasma level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was significantly higher while those of albumin-binding (bioavailable) and free estradiol were lower than in controls. No statistically significant difference in hormonal status parameters was established between menopausal patients and menopausal controls. However, concentrations of total, free and albumin-binding estradiol tended to be higher in breast cancer supporting the relationship between exposure of breast tissue to plasma free estradiol and risk of breast cancer. Unlike healthy females, menopausal breast cancer patients showed a decrease in SHBG level and a rise in free and albumin-binding estradiol concentration with age. SHBG level was inversely related to weight and Quetelet's index; however, the tendency reached statistical significance in the reproductive age group only.

[Fatty acid composition of phospholipids of erythrocyte membranes and risk of breast cancer]. / Sostav zhirnykh kislot fosfolipidov membran éritrotsitov i risk raka molochnoi zhelezy.

Five fatty acids, two saturated--palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), and three unsaturated--oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:2) and arachidonic (C20:4) were assayed in red cell membranes of breast cancer patients and healthy controls. No significant difference in the levels of saturated fatty acids was established between the two groups, although mean values were somewhat lower in cancer patients. Mean levels of unsaturated fatty acids were also lower in breast cancer patients, with the difference being significant for arachidonic acid in postmenopausal women. There was no significant difference in polyunsaturated/saturated acid ratio between patients and controls in either cycling or postmenopausal group. In controls, the levels of the fatty acids checked, particularly, those of arachidonic acid were higher in menopause than in premenopause. However, no difference in the fatty acid levels was observed between pre- and postmenopausal cancer patients.