title: Quantification of epidermal growth factor in human breast cyst fluids: correlation with dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate and electrolyte concentrations.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA)-sulphate and [Na+] and [K+] were assayed in 78 cyst fluids from patients with a palpable breast cyst. Epidermal growth factor was detected in all but 2 cysts, the mean value +/- SEM being 506.2 +/- 39.3 ng/ml, with a range of 0-1,599 ng/ml. When the cyst fluids were sub-divided according to their [Na+]:[K+] ratio, group A cyst fluids ( [Na+]:[K+] less than 3) had a significantly higher (p less than 0.001) level of EGF than group B cyst fluids ([Na+]:[K+] greater than 3). Furthermore, the relationship between EGF and [Na+] and [K+] and between EGF and DHA-sulphate seemed to differ between the 2 cyst types and each cyst type was therefore analyzed separately.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Unit Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fennelly
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D011506:Proteins; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor