Impact of metabolism on the safety of estrogen therapy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Estrogen metabolism has received attention owing to the recognition that oxidative metabolism of these hormones could play a very important role in the initiation and evolution of estrogen-related cancerous processes. This review discusses principal metabolic pathways associated with the molecular constituents found in common hormone formulations. The focus is the formation of catechol estrogens that then oxidize to redox-active and electrophilic quinones, along with potential mechanisms by which these metabolites contribute to oxidative stress and induce damage to essential biological macromolecules. Recent investigations involving specific estrogen metabolites that may offer potential increase of therapeutic safety for estrogen therapy in the future have also been highlighted.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)243-257
Number of pages15
JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume1052
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005

Keywords

  • Carcinogenesis
  • Catechol estrogen
  • Cytochrome P450
  • Equilenin
  • Equilin
  • Estradiol
  • Estrogen
  • Estrogen-progesterone therapy
  • Estrone
  • Hormone therapy
  • Metabolism
  • Ortho-quinone
  • Para-quinol
  • Premarin
  • Progestin
  • Provera
  • Reactive oxygen species
  • Redox cycling

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of metabolism on the safety of estrogen therapy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this