[Blood prolactin level of breast and endometrial cancer patients during surgical intervention]

Abundant experimental data suggest the potentiating influence of hyperprolactinemia on the development, progression and dissemination of breast cancer, whereas hypophysectomy, immunologically- and pharmacologically-induced inhibition of prolactin has an antitumor effect. Moreover, hyperprolactinemia is caused by any kind of stress (surgical one included) as well as phenothiazine and butyrophenone treatment for neuroleptanalgesia. These findings encouraged intraoperative radioimmunologic assays of blood-prolactin levels in endometrial and breast cancer patients. The advantages offered by treatment with specific inhibitors of prolactin secretion aimed at reducing hyperprolactinemia on the day of surgery are discussed.