# OBESITY, DIET, ESTROGENS AND CANCER RISK

> **NIH NIH R01** · INSTITUTE FOR HORMONE RESEARCH · 1989 · $240,216

## Abstract

We propose to investigate the impact of obesity and dietary composition on
human estrogen synthesis and metabolism.  The aim is to characterize
further the aberrations in estrogen metabolism associated with obesity and
to determine whether weight loss or dietary manipulation can mitigate these
abnormalities.  Using the established radiometric technique for determining
the extent of in vivo C-2 and C-16 hydroxylation and the newly developed
radiometric method for determining peripheral aromatization, these three
major pathways can be assessed.  To probe for the specific metabolic link
associated with obesity that confers the increased risk of breast cancer,
plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of 16 Alpha-hydroxyestrone,
estrone, estrone sulfate and estriol will be quantitated by
radioimmunoassay.

Obese patients will be stratified by adipose tissue distribution and their
adipose tissue will be described quantitatively and qualitatively following
percutaneous biopsy.  Aromatase activity in these specimens will be
correlated with in vivo measurements with the aim of developing an in vitro
assay which can accurately estimate the extent of the in vivo reactions.

The increased C-16 hydroxylation of estrogens already demonstrated in women
with breast and endometrial cancer, suggests that the metabolic fate of the
endproduct of this reaction, 16 Alpha-hydroxyestrone, may be a critical
factor in estrogen sensitive cancers.  Thus, we propose to study the
metabolic fate of (6, 7-3H)-16 Alpha-hydroxyestrone in both normal subjects
and obese patients.  This proposal attempts to elucidate the mechanism,
whereby obesity may increase the risk for estrogen sensitive cancers.
Furthermore, we wish to determine whether some or all of the observed
abnormalities can be reversed by weight loss and/or dietary manipulation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179112
- **Project number:** 7R01CA039734-05
- **Recipient organization:** INSTITUTE FOR HORMONE RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** H L BRADLOW
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $240,216
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 1985-04-01 → 1991-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179112

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179112, OBESITY, DIET, ESTROGENS AND CANCER RISK (7R01CA039734-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179112. Licensed CC0.

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