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Prolactin: The Third Hormone in Breast Cancer
Linda A Schuler1, Kathleen A O'Leary1
1Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
Frontiers in Endocrinology
|July 5, 2022
Summary
Prolactin, a hormone crucial for lactation, may increase breast cancer risk, particularly in postmenopausal women. Further research is needed to understand its role in tumor progression and treatment responses.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Prolactin is essential for mammary gland development and lactation.
- Its role in breast cancer is complex and not fully understood.
- Epidemiologic studies suggest a link between prolactin exposure and increased breast cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review experimental data on prolactin's mechanisms in breast cancer risk.
- To examine prolactin's role in established tumors, disease progression, and treatment responses.
- To reconcile conflicting findings between epidemiologic and experimental prolactin studies.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental data and scientific literature.
- Analysis of epidemiologic study findings.
- Discussion of downstream signaling cascades of prolactin.
Main Results:
- Prolactin is implicated in mammary epithelial growth and differentiation.
- Higher prolactin exposure is linked to increased breast cancer risk, especially ER+ breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
- Prolactin's actions in established tumors and treatment responses require further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Prolactin may contribute to breast cancer development through multiple mechanisms.
- Understanding prolactin's complex role is crucial for developing prevention and treatment strategies.
- New approaches are emerging to clarify prolactin's biology in diverse breast cancers.
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