# ANDROGEN & ESTROGEN DYNAMICS IN OBESITY PHENOTYPES

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEWARK BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER · 1987 · $154,436

## Abstract

Obesity has been associated with an increased incidence of a variety of
neoplasms, including several arising from hormone-responsive tissues such
as breast, endometrium and prostate.  Nutritional and lifestyle factors may
combine to generate the pandemic of obesety which seems characteristic of
western societies where these obesity-linked cancers are more common.

Obesity is associated with several abnormalities of androgen and estrogen
production, transport and metabolism.  Obese women have increased
production rates of a variety of androgens, increased peripheral metabolism
of androgens to estrogens and increased estrogen production rates.
Further, obesity is associated with decreased levels of sex hormone binding
globulin (SHBG) favoring increased circulating levels of free hormone
binding globulin (SHBG) favoring increased circulating levels of free
(biologically active) hormones, as well as resulting in increased hormone
metabolic clearance rates.  Differences in the hormones of environment and
the obese women may influence tissues which normally respond to hormones
and could act to augment or promote neoplastic changes which eventually
result in the emergency of cancer.

There now seems to be ample data to suggest that not all obesity is the
same, and that perhaps different phenotypes of obesity are associated with
differing hormonal environments.  Upper body (android) obesity appears to
be associated with carbohydrate abnormalities as well as preliminary
evidence suggesting hyperandrogenism.  Lower body (gynoid) obesity is more
prevalent in women compared to men and exogenous estrogens seems to promote
a gynoid distribution of adiposity.  These adipose phenotypes need to be
systematically explored, particularly regarding sex hormone production,
action and metabolism.

This study will explore the dynamics of sex hormone production in women
with android and gynoid phenotypes of obesity.  Our studies will provide
the biochemical background for more classical epidemiological surveys to
assess obesity phenotype vs. cancer risk.  Such an attempt to "fine tune"
on hormonal dynamics in specific types of obesity might provide an
important link between hormones and cancer risk.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179181
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039767-03
- **Recipient organization:** NEWARK BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** D1KBDGCRUZZ7
- **Principal Investigator:** Marvin A. Kirschner
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $154,436
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-30 → 1988-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179181

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179181, ANDROGEN & ESTROGEN DYNAMICS IN OBESITY PHENOTYPES (5R01CA039767-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-26 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179181. Licensed CC0.

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