title: beta-Endorphin expression in gross cystic breast disease.
abstract: Opioid peptides have a variety of pathophysiologic actions, playing a novel important role in human breast cancer. The expression of beta-endorphin was studied in 84 human breast cyst fluids from gross cystic breast disease-affected patients. The concentration of beta-endorphin in pooled breast cyst fluids was over four-fold higher than in respective plasma with a significant increase in the mean value of the 'metabolically active' apocrine cysts when compared with flattened cysts (P < 0.001). The higher levels of Type I cyst suggest de novo mammary synthesis of endogenous opioid peptides and could represent an altered expression of biosynthetic activity of apocrine breast cells, providing a possible explanation on functional changes of gross cysts, on the mechanism of their formation and a perspective relationship to breast cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Laboratory Analysis, University of Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mannello
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Bocchiotti
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mezzolani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gazzanelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin