paywalled: Systematic review of progesterone use by midlife and menopausal women

Systematic review of progesterone use by midlife and menopausal women: Publication year: 2012

Source: Maturitas

 Progesterone treatment for menopausal symptoms is still controversial. Progesterone levels fall during menopause transition, therefore some menopausal women may benefit from progesterone therapy. A systematic review was conducted of studies published from 2001 reporting on progesterone use to treat symptoms associated with menopause or postmenopausal women. Fourteen data bases were searched using the search terms progesterone, menopause, aged, female and human; exclusions were breast cancer, animal and contraception. Thirteen studies were selected for inclusion (11 clinical trials, 1 cohort study and 1 qualitative study), evaluating progesterone effects on menopausal symptoms, bone, sleep, skin, cognition, plasma lipids and plaque progression. Most studies were of low methodological quality (GRADE low or very low). Progesterone improved vasomotor symptoms and sleep quality, with minimal risk. Large studies designed to identify confounders, such as hormone levels, menopausal status and metabolism are required to understand the place of progesterone in clinical practice.

Cancer researchers link ovarian hormone to breast stem cells growth (progesterone)

Note: in research

PMH breast cancer researchers link ovarian hormone to breast stem cells growth

Note: easier to read Medscape article from previous blog post

"Cancer researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) have discovered that the ovarian hormone progesterone plays a pivotal role in altering breast stem cells, a finding that has important implications for breast cancer risk.......The findings, published online today in Nature (10.1038/nature09091; http://dx.doi.org/), are significant because reproductive history is among the strongest risk factors for breast cancer, says principal investigator Rama Khokha, a molecular biologist at Ontario Cancer Institute and the Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute, PMH. Other major known risk factors are age, genetics and breast density."

Progesterone induces adult mammary stem cell expansion : Nature

Note: in research; defining the role of progesterones

"Reproductive history is the strongest risk factor for breast cancer after age, genetics and breast density. Increased breast cancer risk is entwined with a greater number of ovarian hormone-dependent reproductive cycles, yet the basis for this predisposition is unknown..........The emerging role of MaSCs (mammary stem cells) in cancer initiation warrants the study of ovarian hormones in MaSC homeostasis. Here we show that the MaSC pool increases 14-fold during maximal progesterone levels at the luteal dioestrus phase of the mouse."

from website: mybiopsy.org: CAP and ASCO ER/PgR Test Guideline - College of American Pathologists

What to Know: The CAP and ASCO Guideline on Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Testing for Breast Cancer Introduction To help doctors give their patients the best possible care, the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) developed evidence-based recommendations to improve the accuracy of testing for estrogen and progesterone receptors for breast cancer. This guide for patients is based on CAP’s and ASCO’s recommendations. Key Points: * Estrogen and progesterone receptors are found on breast cancer cells that depend on estrogen and related hormones to grow. * All patients with invasive breast cancer or a breast cancer recurrence should have their tumors tested for estrogen and progesterone receptors. * This testing should be performed by an accredited laboratory that follows specific testing procedures and handles the samples in a consistent way.

Expression of HER2/neu, estrogen and progesterone receptors, CA 125 and CA19-9 on cancer cell membrane in patients with serous and mucinous carcinoma