[Correlations between PRL and 17-beta-E in human breast cancer]

The authors study the correlation existing between prolactin and E-17-beta in breast cancer. In both premenopausal and post-menopausal patients prolactin may be useful as an evolutive marker. Prolactin increases particularly as a consequence of the metastatic growth. E-17-beta shows no variation when studied during the luteal phase, diminishes after the extirpation of the primitive tumor, and augments again with metastases development. After chemotherapy the amount of E-17-beta becomes almost undetectable. No correlation was found between prolactin and E-17-beta; apparently, the prolactin increase does not depend directly from the amount of circulating estradiol, but relies on the activity of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal system. With regard to E-17-beta, this product also augments after ovariectomy, suggesting an ectopic production starting on adrenal gland precursors, perhaps modulated by prolactin.