title: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 and -6 in fibrocystic breast disease.
abstract: The risk of developing breast cancer is higher in women presenting gross cystic disease (cysts > 3 mm in diameter) of the breast with intracystic K+/Na+ > 3 as compared with K+/Na+ < 3. The present study reports the levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the breast cyst fluid of women with gross cystic disease and analyses the relationship between the intracystic concentration of these cytokines, sex steroid hormones, and the K+/Na+ ratio. The concentration of these cytokines, estradiol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and 17-OH-progesterone were determined in the breast cyst fluid of 54 women with gross cystic disease. No significant differences were found in the cystic levels of IL-1 between cysts with intracystic K+/Na+ < 3 and > 3. However, in cysts with intracystic K+/Na+ > 3 we found a lower concentration of IL-6 and TNF-alpha than in those with intracystic K+/Na+ < 3. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that the concentration of IL-6 in breast cyst fluid was predicted statistically by a negative regression coefficient for the concentration of estradiol and DHEA-S, and by a positive regression coefficient for the concentration of TNF-alpha. The concentration of TNF-alpha in breast cyst fluid was predicted statistically by a positive regression coefficient for the concentration of IL-6, and by a negative regression coefficient for the concentration of estradiol. No candidate variable was included in the model to predict concentrations of IL-1 in breast cyst fluid. Our results indicate that IL-6 and TNF-alpha could have a local 'protector' role in gross cystic disease, and that they could be used as a marker to identify cyst type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herruzo
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Castilla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menjón
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium