Studies of liver function in patients having cancer of the breast

✍ Scribed by H. J. Tagnon; J. B. Trunnell,

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1948
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 518 KB
• Volume: 1
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(194809)1:3<472::aid-cncr2820010315>3.0.co;2-y

✦ Synopsis

INCE the discovery by Lacassagne of the effectiveness of administered estrogens in the production and growth of mouse mammary cancer, the question has arisen whether estrogens play a role in the genesis of cancer of the human breast. It is at least conceivable that overstimulation of the glandular tissue of the breast by excessive quantities of estrogens might lead to the formation of human mammary cancer. A similar stimulus has been postulated by some authors as an etiological factor in certain uterine cancers in the human.lI These authors believe that overstimulation of the uterine mucosa in certain instances of uterine cancer is the result of the presence of excessive quantities of estrogens, and that this may sometimes be ascribed to failure of the livers of these patients to inactivate estrogens.2 It is well known that the liver is the organ concerned in estrogen inactivation in many animal species.s Observations suggesting that the same process exists in the human have thus far been limited,1° but there is at least no experimental evidence to the contrary.

I n view of these facts and postulates, a study of liver function in patients with cancer of the breast appeared justified. The results of such study are presented in this report.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Three groups of women were investigated.