Plasma Testosterone and Prognosis of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients

• DOI: 10.1200/jco.2006.09.0118
• Publication Date: 2007-06-05T01:33:00Z
• Authors: Andrea Micheli; Elisabetta Meneghini; Giorgio Secreto; Franco Berrino; Elisabetta Ventur...; Adalberto Cavalleri; Tiziana Camerini; Maria G. Di Mauro; Elena Cavadini; Giuseppe De Palo; Umberto Veronesi; Franca Formelli
• Keywords: Clinical endpoint

Purpose High endogenous testosterone is associated with increased breast cancer (BC) risk. We designed this study specifically to assess the long-term prognostic role of in a cohort postmenopausal BC patients. Patients and Methods considered 194 women, operated on for early (T1-2N0M0), who never received chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, participated fenretinide prevention trial as untreated controls. Blood samples were collected 3 months (median) after surgery; plasma samples, stored at −80°C, radioimmunoassayed testosterone. Median follow-up was 14 years. The main end point any event. Event-free survival estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. Hazard ratios (HRs) events level Cox model, adjusting age, tumor size, histology. Results high (≥ 0.40 ng/mL, median distribution) had significantly lower event-free than those low (log-rank P = .004). adjusted HR patients versus 2.05 (95% CI, 1.28 3.27). also higher risk (relapse second primary) an 1.77 1.06 2.96). Eleven primaries (non-BC) occurred high-testosterone group, four low-testosterone group. Conclusion strongly predicts poorer prognosis not administered adjuvant therapy. Testosterone levels should be determined part work-up.