title: Identification of multiple proliferative growth factors in breast cyst fluid.
abstract: Gross cystic disease is a common benign breast disease that is associated with a twofold to fourfold increase in breast cancer risk. Both diseases are hormonally induced and may share a common biochemical environment conducive to abnormal proliferative responses. A large collection of breast cyst fluid samples was analyzed for growth factors associated with cell proliferation: epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). The data demonstrate that significant amounts of proliferative growth factors are present in breast cyst fluid of all cyst subtypes. The presence of IGF-II, PDGF, and TGF-beta in breast cyst fluid was confirmed for the first time. EGF, PDGF, and TGF-beta concentrations in breast cyst fluid were several times greater than reported for serum; IGF-I and IGF-II concentrations were several times lower. In the first 100 samples tested, no TGF-alpha was detected. Only EGF and IGF-II levels demonstrated a consistent correlation with apocrine type 1 cysts. These results demonstrated that effective concentrations of proliferative growth factors are in breast cyst fluid and suggest that adjacent breast tissue may be a probable source of synthesis. Growth factor profiles of breast cyst fluid may indicate the presence in breast tissue of a hormonal and proliferative environment permissive to subsequent cancer growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 98105.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ness
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sedghinasab
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tapper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000737:chemistry*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium