Endocrine Abstracts

Recent data from us and others have evidently shown that steroid metabolism at the target tissues is a key determinant regulating the availability of high affinity ligands for steroid receptors. Thus, the serum concentrations of the steroids do not necessary mimic their target tissue concentrations in several physiological and pathophysiological settings. Accordingly, among the other steroid metabolizing enzymes, the expression of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase- (HSD17B) enzymes...

Although not normally considered an oestrogen responsive tissue, compelling evidence now exists suggesting that the colon is responsive to oestrogenic effects. Results from the Women’s Health Initiative demonstrated that post-menopausal women taking oestrogen and progestins as hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) had a 40% reduction in developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Intriguingly, patients taking oestrogen supplements at the time of CRC diagnosis presented a much more ad...

...