Biomedical subjects

C Benedetto

Publications and source records attributed to C Benedetto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Efficacy and tolerability of almotriptan versus zolmitriptan for the acute treatment of menstrual migraine.

Menstrual migraine (MM) attacks are a challenge for the headache specialist, because they are particularly difficult to treat. Almotriptan is a second-generation triptan successfully used for the acute treatment of migraine. No data on the efficacy and safety of almotriptan in MM treatment have been published previously. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of almotriptan in the symptomatic treatment of MM attacks and to compare these parameters to those obtained with zolmitriptan, another second-generation triptan. Data from a multicentre, multinational, randomised, double-blind, parallel clinical trial, conducted at 118 centres in 9 European countries, to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of almotriptan 12.5 mg vs. zolmitriptan 2.5 mg in the acute treatment of migraine were analysed retrospectively. Of the 1061 patients included, 902 were women and 255 of these treated a MM attack: 136 with almotriptan and 119 with zolmitriptan. No significant difference between the two treatments was found. Two hours after dosing, 67.9% of almotriptan-treated and 68.6% of zolmitriptan-treated patients had obtained pain relief; while 44.9% and 41.2%, respectively, were pain free. Recurrence rates 2-24 h after dosing were 32.8% for almotriptan and 34.7% for zolmitriptan. Adverse events in the 24 h after dosing were reported by 19.8% of those taking almotriptan and 23.1% of those taking zolmitriptan. In conclusion, almotriptan is effective and safe in the treatment of MM attacks.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Switching to anastrozole versus continued tamoxifen treatment of early breast cancer. Updated results of the Italian tamoxifen anastrozole (ITA) trial.

BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen, for many years the 'gold standard' in the adjuvant setting for the management of endocrine sensitive early breast cancer, is associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer and other life-threatening events. Moreover, many women relapse during or after tamoxifen therapy due to the development of resistance. This provided the rationale for a switching trial with anastrozole, the updated results of which are reported here. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This trial investigated the efficacy of switching to anastrozole for women already receiving tamoxifen. After 2-3 years of tamoxifen treatment, postmenopausal, node-positive, ER-positive patients were randomized to receive either anastrozole 1 mg/day or to continue tamoxifen, 20 mg/day, giving a total duration of 5-years treatment. The primary end point was disease-free survival and secondary endpoints were event-free survival, overall survival and safety. RESULTS: A total of 448 patients were enrolled. At a median follow-up time of 64 months (range 12-93), 63 events had been reported in the tamoxifen group compared with 39 in the anastrozole group [HR 0.57 (95% CI 0.38-0.85) P = 0.005]. Relapse-free and overall survival were also longer in the anastrozole group [HR 0.56 (95% CI 0.35-0.89) P = 0.01 and 0.56 (95% CI 0.28-1.15) P = 0.1]. However, the latter difference was not statistically significant. Overall more patients in the anastrozole group experienced at least one adverse event (209 versus 151: P = 0.000). However, numbers of patients experiencing serious adverse events were comparable (37 versus 40, respectively: P = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Switching to anastrozole after the first 2-3 years of treatment was confirmed to improve event-free and relapse-free survival of postmenopausal, node-positive, ER-positive early breast cancer patients already receiving adjuvant tamoxifen.

Anastrozole↗

PubMed2006

Transcranial Doppler for monitoring the cerebral blood flow dynamics: normal ranges in the Italian female population.

AIM: This study was aimed at recording, by means of a transcranial Doppler (TCD) device, the values of blood flow velocities (BFV) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in physiological conditions, in a population of healthy women in various ages of their life, in order to establish normative data in an Italian female population. METHODS: Our sample consisted of 100 healthy women (mean age 38 +/-15.14 years, range 12-78) that underwent an investigation of the intracranial circulation by means of TCD. Patients were subdivided into 4 age groups: less than 20 years; 20-34 years; 35-50 years; more than 50 years. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were present between the mean BFV in the left and right MCAs of the subjects considered as a unique population (left MCA 68.06+/-9.22 cm/s; right MCA 66.71+/-8.79 cm/s). The BFVs tended to significantly decrease with the increasing of age. In fact, they were so distributed: left MCA 82.55+/-6.85 cm/s and right MCA 80.27+/-4.13 cm/s in the younger group; left MCA 72.15+/-6.37 cm/s and right MCA 70.68+/-6.79 cm/s in women aged 20-34; left MCA 63.85+/-7.08 cm/s and right MCA 63.06+/-7.29 cm/s in women aged 35-50; left MCA 60.67+/-6.85 cm/s and right MCA 59.10+/-5.36 cm/s in the last group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study defined a normal age-related range of variations in MCA BFVs, useful for future comparisons in studies involving pathological female subjects.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

The relationship between headache and preeclampsia: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy-induced hypertension with proteinuria (preeclampsia-PE) is linked to increased vascular reactivity, increased vasoconstrictors, endothelial damage and platelet hyperaggregation, which are also typical features of migraine patients. Thus, we investigated the association between headache and PE. METHODS: In a case-control study, we evaluated the occurrence of primary headache forms in 75 women with a recent history of PE. Seventy-five controls were selected from women having uneventful pregnancy at term. Both groups were matched for age and parity. Subjects' headache history was evaluated by using an ad hoc structured questionnaire. The International Headache Society criteria for primary headaches were applied to diagnose the specific form of headache. RESULTS: In PE cases, gestational age at parturition was 34.2+/-3.8 weeks and birthweight was 1820+/-746 g, whereas in controls they were 39.3+/-1.5 weeks and 3365+/-437 g, respectively (P < 0.01). Sixty-six (44%) subjects suffered from headache. Headache was significantly more frequent in PE (47/75) than in controls (19/75), OR 4.95 (95% CI, 2.47-9.92). Migraine without aura was more frequently present in cases than in controls while episodic tension-type headache was equally distributed among groups. Fifty-two patients met the criteria of severe PE. The number of patients suffering from headache was significantly higher in severe patients (39 cases, 75%) than in those with moderate PE (8 cases, 34.8%), OR = 5.63 (95% CI, 1.97-16.03). With respect to controls, PE patients reported a more frequent onset at menarche, more menstrually related attacks and an increased rate of improvement during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: This study shows that there is a strong association between migraine history and PE development, namely with the severe form of PE.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Mutational analysis of the inhibin alpha gene in preeclamptic women.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia (PE) is a disorder that occurs in at least 5% of pregnancies and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. A dramatic increase of maternal serum inhibin A concentration in the second and third trimester of pregnancy is a common feature of PE and inhibin A measurement may add significant prognostic information for predicting PE in pregnant women. DESIGN: We evaluated the presence and prevalence of gene polymorphisms for inhibin alpha subunit (INHalpha) in patients affected by PE (no.=50; study group), and in the general population (control group composed of 103 women and 42 men). METHODS: DNA extraction, single strand conformation polymorphism analysis, DNA sequencing, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and Fisher's exact test were used. RESULTS: A 769G-->A transition was found in INHalpha1, but not in INHalpha2 or INHalpha3 fragment. This variant was found in 10/145 normal controls (7,6%), and in 1/50 preeclamptic patients (2%), without significant difference between the two groups (p=0.29). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of INHalpha gene variants is not increased in PE. Due to its frequency, the 769G-->A transition may be considered a polymorphism present in the general Italian population.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Advanced strategies of short-term prophylaxis in menstrual migraine: state of the art and prospects.

Patients suffering from menstrual migraine (MM) may be ideal candidates for an intermittent prophylaxis, usually termed short-term or mini-prophylaxis. It covers the whole period of vulnerability, e. g., the perimenstrual period, starting some days before the expected onset of MM attack. Theoretically MM attacks are an optimal target for drugs specifically developed for acute head pain. Unfortunately, due to their particular tendency to be longer, more intense and less responsive to analgesics, symptomatic approaches alone are not often able to completely control pain and its correlates. Many drugs have been proposed for short-term prophylaxis of MM. In this paper we analyse only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, coxibs and triptans (especially those with longer half-life, naratriptan and frovatriptan). Moreover, MM can be prevented by a variety of hormonal manipulations, including oral contraceptives, which may be administered with an extended-dosing strategy; oestrogen replacement therapy; antioestrogen agents (danazol, tamoxifen); gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists followed by oestrogen add-back therapy. Finally, the use of some products, such as magnesium and phytoestrogens, that probably meet the requirements of those patients that appreciate a more "natural" approach, is discussed.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed2005

Ear acupuncture in the control of migraine pain: selecting the right acupoints by the "needle-contact test".

There is increasing evidence that somatic acupuncture can be helpful in migraine treatment, but substantial data on ear acupuncture (EAP) are still lacking. EAP can be useful both in the diagnosis and in the treatment of many medical conditions. As regards the control of migrainous pain, we present a case report in which a procedure called the "needle-contact test" is described in detail. During a migraine attack, the patient undergoes an accurate search for tender points of the outer ear by means of a specific pressure algometer. Once the most sensitive point has been identified, an acupuncture needle is placed in contact with it for about 10 s, without skin penetration. The expected effect is a quick and evident reduction of acute pain. If no appreciable variation in pain intensity occurs within the following 60 s, a second or third attempt is made on other previously identified tender points, until the point at which the patient notices a clear remission of pain is found. In this positive case, the same testing needle can be immediately used for therapy, completely penetrating the skin, and then extracted after about 30 min. Alternatively, a temporary needle can be implanted and left in situ for a variable period of time (1-15 days). This innovative technique allows the identification, with maximum accuracy, of the most effective ear acupoints on migraine pain during acute attacks.

Acupuncture Points↗

PubMed2005

Naratriptan in the short-term prophylaxis of pure menstrual migraine.

Menstrual migraines are particularly difficult-totreat. Few studies on the use of triptans in short-term prophylaxis of menstrually related migraine have been recently conducted, but evidences of triptans' efficacy in the specific case of pure menstrual migraine (PMM) are lacking. The aim of this study is to explore the efficacy and tolerability of naratriptan as short-term prophylaxis of pure menstrual migraine (PMM) attacks. A multi-centre, open, non comparative, pilot six-month study was conducted in women, aged 18 years or older, with regular menstrual cycles and with a history of migraine without aura exclusively associated to the perimenstrual period. After an observation period of three months, patients took for three consecutive menstrual cycles oral naratriptan 1 mg twice daily, starting two days before the expected onset of menstruation and continuing for six days. Ninety-eight women with a history of PMM were screened for study participation, and 61 entered the study. Fifty-nine comprised the intent-to-treat population. The mean number of PMM attacks decreased from 3.5+/-1.4 in the 3-month observation period to 1.6+/-1.3 in the 3-month treatment with naratriptan. The pecentage of responders (subjects who recorded a decrease-equal or more than 50%-in the mean number of attacks) was 61.4%. A tendency towards a decrease in headache severity and in the presence of associated symptoms was observed during treatment. At least one adverse event during the treatment period was reported by 19 patients (31.1%). No serious adverse events occurred. Naratriptan may be an effective and safe treatment option in the short-prophylaxis of PMM.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Acupuncture versus pharmacological approach to reduce Hyperemesis gravidarum discomfort.

AIM: Several reports have suggested the use of acupuncture as a useful treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), in particular the effects on nausea intensity was underlined. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of acupuncture sessions plus acupressure with a metoclopramide/vitamin B12 treatment. METHODS: In this study we randomized 88 pregnant patients suffering from HG to receive either acupuncture sessions plus acupressure (acupuncture group) or metoclopramide infusion (metoclopramide group) supplemented by vitamin B12 complex. Somatic symptoms and the ability to achieve the daily routine activity (functioning) were evaluated. Acupuncture sessions were performed at the hospital twice a week for 2 weeks according to the traditional Chinese medicine criteria. Acupression was applied for 6-8 h/day. In the metoclopramide group, patients received at hospital metoclopramide infusion (20 mg/500 mL saline for 60 min) twice a week for 2 weeks. An oral supplementation with vitamin B12 complex (30 mg/day) was also prescribed. RESULTS: Both treatments reduced vomiting episodes and then nausea intensity with a consequent improvement in the rate of food intake. The effect of acupuncture seems to be progressive, increasing at the end of treatment whereas pharmacological approach has a prompt effect in responders remaining stable thereafter. Moreover, acupuncture was significantly more effective than drugs in improving functioning. CONCLUSIONS: In our study for the first time acupuncture, applied accordingly to Chinese formula, was compared to drugs demonstrating the same effect of both treatments on HG symptoms. Interestingly, functioning was significantly improved just by acupuncture. Even if the effect of acupuncture on HG discomfort remains to be confirmed, the reports on the effect of acupuncture on psychosocial variables could represent a further advantage of acupuncture application and provide an incentive to widen the base of the research.

Acupressure↗

PubMed2004

Superior cycle control with a contraceptive vaginal ring compared with an oral contraceptive containing 30 microg ethinylestradiol and 150 microg levonorgestrel: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: This trial was conducted to compare cycle control with vaginal ring a combined contraceptive vaginal ring, and a combined oral contraceptive (COC) delivering 30 mug ethinylestradiol (EE) and 150 mug levonorgestrel. METHODS: This open-label, randomized, multi-centre, Phase III study involved adult women from 11 countries. Subjects were treated with either vaginal ring or a COC for 13 cycles (12 months). RESULTS: A total of 1030 subjects (vaginal ring, n=512; COC, n=518) comprised the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. The percentage of women in the ITT population who completed the trial was 70.9% for vaginal ring and 71.2% for the COC group. The incidence of breakthrough bleeding and spotting over cycles 2-13, the primary efficacy parameter, was lower with vaginal ring (range 2.0-6.4%) than the COC (range 3.5-12.6%), and for cycles 2 and 9 the lower incidence with vaginal ring was confirmed as statistically significant (P=0.003 and P=0.002 respectively). The incidence of intended bleeding was significantly higher over all cycles with vaginal ring (58.8-72.8%) than with the COC (43.4-57.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Cycle control with vaginal ring was excellent and superior to that of a COC containing 30 mug EE.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Oral contraceptives in women with migraine: balancing risks and benefits.

Oral contraceptives (OCs) are a safe and highly effective method of birth control, but can also be associated with some risks, mainly a potential thrombotic risk. OCs may condition the course of headache and sometimes start it, but their influence on the clinical evolution of migraine is not easily assessable. The last Classification of Headache Disorders of the International Headache Society clearly identifies an "exogenous hormone-induced headache" that could be triggered by intake of OCs. Old high-dose OCs could effectively worsen headache in a significant proportion of patients, but the newest formulations influence headache course to a lesser extent. In any case, while an increase in migraine frequency or intensity do not oblige the cessation of OCs, experiencing a migraine aura for the first time, or even a clear worsening of a preexistent aura suggest discontinuation of OCs. Even if both migraine and OCs intake are associated with an increased risk of ischaemic stroke, migraine per se is not a contraindication for OCs use; however, patients suffering from migraine with aura generally show a greater thrombotic risk than women with migraine without aura. Other risk factors (patient's age, tobacco use, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, obesity and diabetes) must be carefully considered when prescribing OCs in migraine patients. Furthermore, all OCs, even those with low oestrogen content, are a major risk for venous thrombosis, particularly in women with hereditary thrombophilia. A thorough laboratory control of the genetics of prothrombotic factors and coagulative parameters should precede any decision of OCs prescription in migraine patients.

Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal↗

PubMed2004

Update on menstrual migraine: from clinical aspects to therapeutical strategies.

Migraine occurrence is strongly influenced by the hormonal fluctuations of the female reproductive cycle; at least 60% of women affected by migraine relate the periodicity of their attacks to the menstrual cycle. The so-called menstrual migraine, which occurs immediately before, during or at the end of the menstrual flow, has been a largely undefined condition, including some clinical subtypes which are not well defined. In the last edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-II), menstrual migraine gained new attention in the Appendix, where three clinical patterns were pointed out: pure menstrual migraine without aura; menstrually related migraine without aura and non-menstrual migraine without aura. Menstrual migraine attacks show severe intensity, long duration (lasting even more than 72 h), marked unresponsiveness to pharmacological treatments, and present higher recurrence rate and work-related disability than non-menstrual attacks. The pharmacological treatment of menstrual migraine can require specific cyclic prophylactic approaches (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, coxibs, magnesium, long half-life triptans or oestrogen supplements in various formulations), but usually the low frequency of attacks suggests a first approach with specific symptomatic drugs. Preference should be given to triptans, due to their specificity in controlling migraine pain and its accompanying symptomatology; among them, in particular for sumatriptan, many specific studies proved a real effectiveness in the management of acute menstrual migraine attack.

Female↗

PubMed2004

Picotamide in migraine aura prevention: a pilot study.

In an open, preliminary trial we evaluated the use of picotamide, an antiplatelet drug, in the prophylactic treatment of migraine aura (MA). Twenty-two women suffering from migraine with typical aura or MA without headache, diagnosed according to International Headache Society criteria, entered a nine-month study. They underwent a three-month run-in period free of prophylactic drugs, followed by a six-month treatment period (subdivided in two trimesters, TI and TII) with 300 mg of picotamide administered twice daily. A detailed diary reporting neurological symptoms, duration and frequency of MA was compiled by patients along the trial time. The number of MA significantly decreased during treatment (from 6.85+/-3.82 in the run-in trimester to 2.85+/-2.72 during TI and to 2.55+/-2.89 during TII). Also, MA duration was decreased significantly, being 36.75+/-20.28 min during run-in, 20.00+/-16.94 during TI and 17.75+/-16.26 during TII. In 25% of patients MA totally disappeared. The number and the features of aura neurological symptoms were also positively modified by the use of picotamide. No serious adverse event was provoked by picotamide administration. Picotamide is effective in reducing MA frequency, duration and symptomatology. The effect is clearly evident in the first trimester of treatment and is maintained with no further modifications during the second trimester.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: In many Western countries breech presentation is an indication for elective Cesarean section. In order to correct fetal presentation, the stimulation of the acupoint BL67 by moxibustion, acupuncture or both has been proposed. Since no studies had previously been carried out on Western populations, pregnant Italian women at 33-35 weeks gestational age carrying a fetus in breech presentation were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial involving an active BL67 point stimulation and an observation group. METHODS: A total of 240 women at 33-35 weeks of gestation carrying a fetus in breech presentation were randomized to receive active treatment (acupuncture plus moxibustion) or to be assigned to the observation group. Bilateral acupuncture plus moxibustion was applied at the BL67 acupoint (Zhiyin). The primary outcome of the study was fetal presentation at delivery. RESULTS: Fourteen cases dropped out. The final analysis was thus made on 226 cases, 114 randomized to observation and 112 to acupuncture plus moxibustion. At delivery, the proportion of cephalic version was lower in the observation group (36.7%) than in the active-treatment group (53.6 %) (p = 0.01). Hence, the proportion of Cesarean sections indicated for breech presentation was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the observation group (52.3% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture plus moxibustion is more effective than observation in revolving fetuses in breech presentation. Such a method appears to be a valid option for women willing to experience a natural birth.

Acupuncture↗

PubMed2004

Cervicovaginal infections during pregnancy: epidemiological and microbiological aspects.

OBJECTIVE: The assessment of the association of cervicovaginal infections during pregnancy with preterm (pPROM) and term (PROM) premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, mid-trimester miscarriage and intrauterine death, and the definition of the risk factors that identify pregnant women who should have a cervicovaginal culture. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the relationship between pregnancy outcomes and cervicovaginal infections in 3217 pregnant women between January 1998 and December 1999. Microbiological assessment included Gram staining and specific cultures; bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed by Amsel's criteria. We also studied the medical, obstetric, sexual, demographic and social history of 11,212 pregnant women who underwent cervicovaginal culture between January 1992 and December 2001. RESULTS: Overall, 1425 of the 3217 cultures (44.3%) were positive. The micro-organisms most frequently found were: yeasts (44%), Ureaplasma urealiticum (29%); group B streptococcus (15%); and bacterial vaginosis (11%). Cervicovaginal cultures were found positive in 84.6% of pPROM, 55.0% of PROM, 50.8% of preterm deliveries, 43.8% of mid-trimester miscarriages, 31.4% of intrauterine deaths and in 33.5% of controls. Among the 11 212 cervicovaginal cultures considered in the second study, an overall 6301 (56.2%) were positive, 2711 (43%) in asymptomatic women. Cervicovaginal infections were associated with country of origin, age under 25 years, age at first intercourse under 15 years, more than ten partners, more than one partner in the past 6 months, prior abortions, past sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV infection. CONCLUSION: Cervicovaginal infections were significantly associated with PROM (p<0.0001), pPROM (p<0.0001) and preterm delivery (p<0.0001), but not with intrauterine death. The association with mid-trimester miscarriage approached statistical significance (p=0.06). The main risk factors for cervicovaginal infections were country of origin, age under 25 years, age at first intercourse under 15 years, more than ten partners, more than one partner in the past 6 months, prior abortions, past STDs and HIV infection.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Characteristics of menstrual and nonmenstrual attacks in women with menstrually related migraine referred to headache centres.

Aim of this study was to determine whether menstrual attacks differ from nonmenstrual attacks (NMA) as regards clinical features or response to abortive treatment in women affected by menstrually related migraine (MRM) referred to tertiary care centres. Sixty-four women with MRM were enrolled in a 2-month diary study. Perimenstrual attacks were split into three groups--premenstrual (PMA), menstrual (MA) and late menstrual (LMA)--and compared to nonmenstrual ones. Perimenstrual attacks were significantly longer than NMA. No other migraine attack features were found to differ between the various phases of the cycle. Migraine work-related disability was significantly greater in PMA and MA than in NMA. Acute attack treatment was less effective in perimenstrual attacks. Pain-free at 2 h after dosage was achieved in 13.5% of MA (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.22, 0.76) vs. 32.9% of NMA. We concluded that, in MRM, perimenstrual attacks are longer and less responsive to acute attack treatment than NMA.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Biologic therapy and epithelial ovarian cancer].

The identification of new molecular prognostic and predictive factors for ovarian cancer may contribute in deciding individual therapeutic strategies; on the other hand, there has been growing interest in new biologic therapies to correct molecular or genic lesions of neoplastic cells (genic therapy), or to activate the specific immune response (immunological therapy). Chemotherapy collateral toxic effects, as myelotoxicity, should be reduced through transfection of genes that modulate drug resistance in stem cells. The data at present available suggest then the potential role of these new treatments, are more specific and less toxic than current therapies; however, other biological-molecular studies are required to obtain the clinical applications of the results: Aim of this study is to provide a review of the most interesting data in ovarian cancer biologic therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Adipocyte expression and circulating levels of leptin increase in both gynaecological and breast cancer patients.

Leptin is a hormone involved in the regulation of body weight and sexual maturation. We previously reported that cancer cachexia was associated with reduced or normal levels of leptin. Here we investigate whether leptin levels are related to cachetic or hormonal status. Circulating leptin and its mRNA from adipose tissue were measured in 87 patients with gynaecological and breast cancers and related to tumour, cachexia and hormonal markers. We found that leptin protein increased in patients with these tumours due to higher mRNA levels. In patients with ovarian cancer, the increased leptin levels were associated with higher circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The higher leptin concentrations in patients with endometrial and portio tumours were related to an increase in tissue estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PGR) and, only in the postmenopause, to an increase in circulating estradiol. Patients with breast cancer showed enhanced blood plasma concentrations of progesterone and estradiol, and enhanced tissue levels of ER and PGR associated with increased leptin levels. The data from the present study indicate that, in gynaecological and breast cancers, leptin is related to hormonal status but not to cachexia. We suggest that leptin stimulates the production of sexual hormones, important risk factors for these tumours, and we propose leptin as a novel prognostic marker.

Adipocytes↗