Prolactin serum level in patients with breast cancer

A. D. Cohen, Y. Cohen, M. Maislos, D. Buskila

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    7 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Background: Previous studies have suggested that prolactin may serve as an indicator of disease progression in breast cancer. Objectives: To evaluate the use of PRL as a serum tumor marker in patients with breast cancer. Methods: PRL serum level was determined in 99 breast cancer patients and compared with CA 15-3 serum level. Results: Elevated serum level of PRL (>20 ng/ml) was found in 8 of 99 patients (8.1%). A stratified analysis of prolactin levels according to therapy revealed that PRL levels was increased in 8 of 55 untreated patients (14.5%), but not in patients who received hormonal or chemotherapy in the 3 months preceding the test (0/42 patients, P=0.009). However, mean PRL level was similar in patients with no evidence of disease activity and in patients with active disease (10.2 vs 8.2 ng/ml, NS). In comparison, CA 15-3 mean level was significantly lower in patients with no evidence of disease as compared to patients with active disease (18.2 vs. 144.7 units/ml, P<0.001). PRL level was increased in 6 of 60 patients (10%) with no evidence of disease and in 2 of 39 (5.2%) with active disease (NS). In comparison, CA 15-3 level was increased in 3 of 60 patients (5%) with no evidence of disease and in 24 of 39 (61.5%) with active disease (P<0.001). Conclusions: PRL levels are decreased following hormonal or chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer and there is no correlation between PRL serum level and the state of disease. Further studies are needed to clarify a possible clinical significance of hyperprolactinemia in a subset of patients with the breast cancer.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)287-289
    Number of pages3
    JournalIsrael Medical Association Journal
    Volume2
    Issue number4
    StatePublished - 12 Sep 2000

    Keywords

    • Breast cancer
    • CA 15-3
    • Disease activity
    • Hyperprolactinemia
    • Prolactin
    • Serum tumor markers

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Medicine

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