title: Circulating levels of prolactin in breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to assess diagnostic value of prolactin (PRL) in breast cancer (BC), we examined its serum levels and frequencies of its increase in breast cancer patients (BCP), and compared them to those in two controls. We also determined circulating levels of PRL in localised and advanced BC and calculated sensitivity and specificity of PRL in BC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The main experimental group consisted of 47 female patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of BC. The obtained results were compared to those in two control groups: clinically healthy women, and female patients with other types and locations of cancer. Serum levels of PRL were measured by means of radioimmunoassay. Results were processed by means of t-test and two way analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of PRL before treatment, as well as the frequencies of its increase, were significantly higher in BCP in comparison to controls (p<0.01, 0.02). The average circulating levels of PRL in patients with advanced BC were significantly higher (p<0.0001) in comparison to patients with localised disease. Sensitivity for PRL in BC was 50%, and specificity was 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased levels of PRL can be detected in the majority of patients with advanced BC. PRL has high specificity for BC, especially for metastatic BC, which leads to its diagnostic and prognostic importance in this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. gjulbehare@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zlata
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mujagić
authors.forename: Hamza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mujagić
authors.forename: Besim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prnjavorac
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011388:Prolactin