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ABSTRACT: Background
This study was conducted to compare breast epithelial-cell proliferation and estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in women taking one of two oral contraceptives (OCs) containing the same dose of estrogen but different doses of the progestin norethindrone (NET).Study design
Thirty-three women were randomly assigned 1:1 to one of two OCs with 35-mcg ethinylestradiol (EE2) but different doses of NET - 1 or 0.4 mg. At the end of the active pill phase of the third OC cycle, a breast biopsy was performed and the percentages of epithelial cells of the terminal duct lobular units were measured for Ki67 (MIB1), progesterone receptors A and B (PRA and PRB, respectively), and estrogen receptor ? (ER?).Results
The biopsies from 27 women had sufficient epithelium for analysis. The percentages of cells positive for PRA, PRB and ER? were approximately double with the lower progestin dose (PRA: p=.041; PRB: p=.030; ER?: p=.056). The Ki67 percentage was not reduced with the lower progestin dose (12.5% for 0.4-mg NET vs. 7.8% for 1.0-mg NET).Conclusions
The increase in PRA-, PRB- and ER?-positive cells with the 60% lower progestin dose OC appears likely to account for its failure to decrease breast-cell proliferation. This breast-cell proliferation result is contrary to that predicted from the results of lowering the medroxyprogesterone acetate dose in menopausal hormone therapy.
SUBMITTER: Hovanessian-Larsen L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3355208 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Hovanessian-Larsen Linda L Taylor DeShawn D Hawes Debra D Spicer Darcy V DV Press Michael F MF Wu Anna H AH Pike Malcolm C MC Pearce C Leigh CL
Contraception 20120209 3
<h4>Background</h4>This study was conducted to compare breast epithelial-cell proliferation and estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in women taking one of two oral contraceptives (OCs) containing the same dose of estrogen but different doses of the progestin norethindrone (NET).<h4>Study design</h4>Thirty-three women were randomly assigned 1:1 to one of two OCs with 35-mcg ethinylestradiol (EE2) but different doses of NET - 1 or 0.4 mg. At the end of the active pill phase of the third OC c ...[more]