Cathepsin D and epidermal growth factor in human breast cyst fluid.
Cathespin D (Cath D) is a proteolytic enzyme secreted by human breast cancer cells with a growth promoting activity in vitro. In the present study, we measured Cath D and Epidermal Growth Factor/alpha Transforming Growth Factor (EGF/alpha-TGF) concentrations in the breast cyst fluid (BCF) of 43 patients with gross cystic disease of the breast. Both Cath D (median 2.45 pmoles mg-1 protein; range 0-4.84 vs 0.98 pmoles mg-1 protein; range 0-3.11) and EGF/alpha-TGF (28.71 ng mg-1 protein; range 7.05-50.63 vs 10.83 ng mg-1 protein; range 0.06-30.55) levels were higher in BCF of apocrine than flattened cysts (P less than 0.0005 and P less than 0.01, respectively). Premenopausal patients showed higher concentrations of Cath D (P less than 0.05) and EGF/alpha-TGF (P less than 0.05) than postmenopausal patients. A positive correlation was obtained between intracystic concentrations of Cath D and EGF/alpha-TGF (P less than 0.00001). The higher levels of Cath-D and EGF/alpha-TGF found in apocrine cysts could provide an explanation for the increased risk of subsequent breast cancer in women with this type of cyst.
Department of Gynecology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
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Scambia
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Benedetti Panici
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G
Ferrandina
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Battaglia
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Rossi
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Bellantone
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F
Crucitti
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Mancuso
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D002402:Cathepsin D