[Biogenic amines and adrenal cortical function in breast cancer]

Under study were the content of serotonin and 11-OCS in blood and diurnal excretion of 5-OIAA, adrenaline and noradrenaline in 71 pateints with breast cancer. The data obtained indicated that the examined patients, compared with the control group, show a reliably higher concentration of serotonin and 11-OCS in blood (70.4% and 19.5% correspondingly), an insignificantly increased excretion of 5-OIAA, a markedly increased diurnal excretion of adrenaline (by 96.4%), whereas a decreased excretion of noradrenaline (by 73.1%). The character of changes in the indices under study was definitely dependent on the stage of the disease (in stages 1-11 these changes were mostly pronounced), and patients' age (in young patients the adrenal cortex activity was rather intensive, whereas in aged patients biologically active substances were manifest).