Abstract
The relation of hormone use by postmenopausal women to breast cancer risk has been
controversial and unclear. A recent large randomized trial, the Women’s Health Initiative
(WHI) and a large observational study (Million Women Study) provided somewhat conflicting
answers. The WHI found an increased incidence of breast cancer among women given hormone
therapy (conjugated equine estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate) but no increase
in those given estrogen only therapy (conjugated equine estrogen alone). Whereas,
the Million Women Study found an increased breast cancer risk among the estrogen plus
progestin and the estrogen only users. This review brings comparative perspective
to the issue of the effects of estrogen plus progestin versus estrogen only effects
on breast cancer and is focused particularly on nonhuman primates. Although data from
rodents is mixed, studies of monkeys suggest that estrogen only treatment has little
or no effect on breast cell proliferation, and by inference, on breast cancer risk.
On the other hand, data from both mouse and monkey studies strongly support the conclusion
that the co-administration of a progestogen with an estrogen markedly increases breast
cell proliferation and the potential for breast cancer promotion.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 10,
2004
Received in revised form:
April 14,
2004
Received:
December 16,
2003
Footnotes
☆Portions of this work were supported by Program Project Grant HL 45666 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
