title: Prolactin dynamics following transphenoidal hypophysectomy for metastatic carcinoma of the breast.
abstract: In nine patients who had undergone trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy, prolactin dynamics were studied with intravenous thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). Residual prolactin secretory reserve was demonstrated in seven. Five patients were TRH tested both before and after trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy. Hypophysectomy did not alter base line prolactin concentration but did decrease prolactin response to TRH from 55 ng/ml to 21 ng/ml (p less than 0.001). Post-hypophysectomy L-Dopa suppressed baseline prolactin concentrations to undetectable levels. There was no correlation between alterations in prolactin dynamics and tumor response to hypophysectomy. Trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy is not effective in ablating prolactin secretion and serious doubts are raised about the role of altered prolactin dynamics in inducing breast cancer remission.
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000379:methods; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin