Plasma prolactin as an indicator of disease progression in advanced breast cancer

Serial plasma prolactin levels were measured in 144 breast cancer patients (premenopausal [PR-M], N = 64; postmenopausal [PO-M], N = 80) and compared with respective controls. Patients with breast cancer were grouped into those who (1) developed distant metastasis, (2) developed local recurrence, (3) stable disease, and (4) responded to the various therapeutic modalities at the end of 2 years. The authors' analysis showed excellent correlation between serial plasma prolactin changes and the response to therapy or progression of disease in patients with advanced breast carcinoma.