Benign and malignant breast disorders are very

common in Libyan women like other Arab

countries particularly younger individuals than
their counterparts in western world. An increase
in the incidence of cancers has been reported in
the Arab countries [1]. This could be attributed to
various factors such as the robust
epidemiological control of infectious diseases,
increase in the average life span of the general
population, higher socio-economic status,
smoking, higher incidence of hepatitis B and C,
and food fads. Breast cancer is one of the
leading cancers, causing higher rate of morbidity
and mortality comparable to that of other
developed countries, however, with an earlier
age of onset [2].
26% of all cancers are breast cancers in Libyan
women as per the Benghazi cancer registry. [3].
Almost a decade ago, Singh and Al-Sudani [4]
demonstrated that breast cancer is one of the top
ten cancers responsible for higher mortality in
Libya. In another study conducted between 1981
and 1985 [5], breast cancer was the most
frequent tumor (29.8%) in females and the
majority of these patients were of a younger age
group (72.3% below 50 years). Almost all the
patients selected for our study were multiparous
and were exposed to breast-feeding [6]. A recent
literature review by Najjar and Easson [6]
provided evidence that the average age of onset
of breast cancer in Arab women is 48 years and
is almost a decade earlier than their western
counterparts and this warrants effective
screening and management strategies [7]. The
present study is to compare the serum levels of
sex hormones in benign and malignant
disorders of breast.

Introduction
Data on sex hormone status in 12 cases of
confirmed carcinoma of breast patients in the
age group ranging from 30 55 years of age
have been retrieved from the department of
surgery, 7th October Hospital, Benghazi, Libya
and compared with that of the 12 cases of age
matched controls free from both malignant and
benign disorders of breast in this study. Serum
oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels
were estimated by using appropriate kits
with Cobas E411 analyser. Statistical analysis
was done using SPSS software using Mann-
Whitney and Wilcoxon tests.
Factors such as obesity and perhaps waist-hip
ratio, physical activity and alcohol consumption,
but probably not age at menarche and parity,
may mediate their effects on breast cancer risk
by changing circulating concentrations of sex
hormones. [8] A strong positive association
between breast cancer risk and circulating
levels of both estrogens and androgens has now
been well confirmed; women with hormone
levels in the top 20% of the distribution (versus
bottom 20% have a 2- to 3-fold higher risk of
breast cancer. Accumulating data also indicate a
significant positive association with prolactin
levels, although additional confirmation is
needed. In contrast, no important link has been
found between circulating levels of IGF-I (and
its binding protein, IGFBP-3) and breast cancer
risk in postmenopausal women [9]. Circulating
(blood) levels of androgens, estrogens, and
prolactin appear to be associated more
specifically to the risk of ER+ tumors [10].

This study has shown a significant association
between sex hormone, oestrogen and breast cancer
risk. Further evaluation is required with a bigger
sample size to decide on the impact of treatment
based on the oestrogen levels.
Discussion
Conclusion
Material and Methods
Results
References
Oestrogen were significantly elevated in
carcinoma breast (p=0.001) when compared
with controls. Oestrogen levels in patients with
benign disorders were not significantly raised
when compared with controls. There is
significant difference between carcinoma breast
(p=0.032) and fibroadenosis in Oestrogen levels.
Serum progesterone levels were not significantly
raised in both malignant (p=0.518) and benign
disorders (p=0.564) when compared with
controls. Same trend between benign and
malignant disorders (p=0.680). Serum
testosterone levels were also not high in
carcinoma breast (p=0.3144) when compared
with controls. The same trend followed between
benign breast disorders 0p=0.077) when
compared with controls and malignant disorders
(p= 0.157). All results were summarised in
table.1.
SERUM LEVELS OF SEX STEROIDS IN CARCINOMA BREAST OF LIBYAN
WOMEN
A.M. Jarari
2
, J.R. Peela
1
, S. Shakila
1
, A.R. Said
1
, L.T. Peela
6
, R. Shembesh
3
, S.O. Alsoaeiti
5
, E.A. Hayam
2
, M.J. Kadeer
2
, N.M.Jarari
4


1.Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Quest International University Perak, Ipoh, Malaysia
2.Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya
3.Department of Oncology, Benghazi Medical Center, Benghazi, Libya
4.Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya
5.Department of Surgery, 7th October Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya
6.Great Eastern Medical School, Srikakulam, India


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Type

Estrogen

Progesterone


Testosterone


Carcinoma

Breast
No of cases 11 11


11

Mean

112.41

2.58

0.27




Std Deviation 69.99 8.57
0.17
Controls
No of cases 9 9
9

Mean 31.52 4.49
0.28





Std Deviation
41.05

6.49
0.18
Fibro

adenosis
No of cases 8 8
8

Mean 95.14 2.61
0.45

Std. Deviation 79.00 4.32
0.23