Biomedical
Progesterone Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk—Addressing Barriers
Seema A. Khan
Peer Reviewed
Abstract
This article addresses the role of progesterone exposure in breast cancer risk, focusing on both biological and technical barriers in studying progesterone’s impact. Research indicates that higher progesterone levels in postmenopausal women may modestly increase breast cancer risk, with a stronger association for invasive breast cancers. The study also highlights the complex relationship between progesterone, estradiol, and breast cancer, suggesting that higher progesterone levels may reduce risk in low estradiol settings. Further studies are needed, particularly to explore the role of progesterone metabolites and the influence of prior hormone therapy use.
Key Questions and Answers
1. What are the key challenges in studying progesterone exposure and breast cancer risk?
The main challenges include the cyclical variation of progesterone levels in premenopausal women and the very low concentrations of progesterone in postmenopausal women, making detection difficult with conventional methods.
2. What did the study by Trabert et al. find regarding progesterone's role in breast cancer risk?
The study found that higher progesterone concentrations were associated with a modestly increased breast cancer risk, particularly for invasive breast cancers, but this association was context-specific and influenced by estradiol levels.
3. How do progesterone metabolites relate to breast cancer risk?
Progesterone metabolites like 5α-dihydroprogesterone (5αP) and 3α-dihydroprogesterone (3αHP) were studied, but no clear association was found with breast cancer risk, though further research is needed to explore their role more comprehensively.
