title: Examination of Duct Physiology in the Human Mammary Gland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human breast comprise several ductal systems, or lobes, which contain a small amount of fluid containing cells, hormones, proteins and metabolites. The complex physiology of these ducts is likely a contributing factor to the development of breast cancer, especially given that the vast majority of breast cancers begin in a single lobular unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the levels of total protein, progesterone, estradiol, estrone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and macrophages in ductal fluid samples obtained from 3 ducts each in 78 women, sampled twice over a 6 month period. Samples were processed for both cytological and molecular analysis. Intraclass correlation coefficients and mixed models were utilized to identify significant data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the levels of these ductal fluid components were generally uncorrelated among ducts within a single breast and over time, suggesting that each lobe within the breast has a distinct physiology. However, we also found that estradiol was more correlated in women who were nulliparous or produced nipple aspirate fluid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide evidence that the microenvironment of any given lobular unit is unique to that individual unit, findings that may provide clues about the initiation and development of ductal carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, 2811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA, 90403, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dixie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, 2811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA, 90403, United States of America.|Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Breast Surgery, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ameer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomberawalla
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, 2811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA, 90403, United States of America.
authors.forename: Eva J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, 2811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA, 90403, United States of America.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tondre
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, 2811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA, 90403, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nejad
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, 2811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA, 90403, United States of America.
authors.forename: Tinh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States of America.
authors.forename: Janice M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pogoda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jianyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 710 North Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States of America.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chatterton
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States of America.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henning
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, 2811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA, 90403, United States of America.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Love
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment