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Query: UMLS:C0006142 (breast cancer)
 160,383 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A simple procedure for the assay of specific estrogen receptors in breast cancer tissue is described. Estrogen receptors were detected in 74% of primary tumors, 71% of skin metastases and 63% of lymph node metastases. Postmenopausal patients and younger oophorectomized women had estrogen receptor-containing tumors more frequently, and at higher levels, than uncastrated, premenopausal, patients. The stability of estrogen receptors was not affected by the transportation of samples from distant hospitals, providing that they were kept frozen in Tris buffer, pH 8.0, at all times.
Clin Chim Acta 1976 Mar 01
PMID:Experience with a simple method for estrogen receptor assay in breast cancer. 0 1

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for human alpha-lactalbumin, a milk protein, has been developed in order to examine the effect of prolactin on the human breast in normal and diseased states. Samples of milk from nursing mothers and from men and women with galactorrhea were found to contain milligram concentrations of this protein. In serum, 8 of 25 normal men and 18 of 44 normal women had detectable concentrations of alpha-lactalbumin. Significantly higher levels of alpha-lactalbumin were found in 17 of 19 women during pregnancy who were not actively lactating. All nursing mothers were found to have distinctly elevated serum alpha-lactalbumin concentrations. In a group of 17 female patients with phenothiazine induced prolactin elevations (mean 29.4 ng/ml), the mean serum alpha-lactalbumin of 17.3 ng/ml was significantly higher than in normal female volunteers. Patients with gynecomastia were not noted to have elevated alpha-lactalbumin. In vitro, homogenates of normal breast and carcinoma tissue from the same individuals revealed that in 9 of 17 patients alpha-lactalbumin was present in higher concentrations in normal than in cancerous tissue. Overall, alpha-lactalbumin was found in 48.5% of homogenates and 41% of organ cultures of normal breast tissue from cancer patients. In contrast, it was present in only 19% of homogenates and 21% of cultures of carcinoma tissue, indicating that the cancer tissue may lose its ability to produce alpha-lactalbumin. Differences in biologic behavior were found in some tumors. In 2 cases homogenates of breast cancer tissue had much higher concentrations of alpha-lactalbumin than the normal tissue, and in 3 of 33 tumors studied in organ culture prolactin increased alpha-lactalbumin output.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1977 Dec
PMID:Studies on human alpha-lactalbumin: radioimmunoassay measurements in normal human breast and breast cancer. 2 54

We have reviewed our experience in a multidisciplined breast cancer clinic where we have utilized hormonal, ablative, and chemotherapetuci modalities. Our experience seesm to be similar to that of other groups in that oophorectomy treatment produces approximately a 61 per cent response (regression and arrest) rate, androgen therapy produces a 47 per cent response (regression and arrest) rate estrogen therapy produces a 40 per cent response (regression and arrest) rate, and ablative treatment produces approximately a 50 per cent response (regression and arrest) rate. Adrenalectomy and hypophysectomy showed similar response rates. Until it can be shown that hypophysectomy clearly offers enhanced benefits, this will not be utilized by our group except in those patients who cannot tolerate abdominal surgery (that is, patients with poor pulmonary reserve). Of interest is the high response rate (65 per cent) to ablative treatment in patients in whom disease exacerbates on additive hormonal treatment, with an increased duration of response and survival. Survival is increased in patients who are rebound responders after estrogen withdrawal. We expect to report data with future follow-up of this group of patients. New protocols will be instituted after review of the data in the hope of increasing clinical benefit and survival in this group of patients. Carcinoma of the breast accounts for almost 90,000 new cases of cancer a year, with metastases eventually developing in at least half of these patients. All physicians must be aware of the many complex problems associated with this disease and, hopefully, arrive at a logical approach for its control. We believe this can be achieved with a multidisciplined group approach as established at the Lahey Clinic Foundation.
Med Clin North Am 1975 Mar
PMID:A multidisciplined approach for the treatment of metastatic carcinoma of the breast. 4 45

The metabolic mechanism for increased circulating free fatty acids in post-menopausal women with metastatic breast cancer was investigated. Hormone and metabolic response to glucose and growth hormone were compared to cancer patients and control subjects; thyroid, adrenal and pituitary function were evaluated. The results of these studies indicated that breast cancer patients had glucose intolerance and delayed and prolonged insulin secretion, increased basal growth hormone levels and insensitivity of adipose tissue to growth hormone. Cortisol and protein-bound iodine levels were normal and there was no lipolytic factor in the sera of breast cancer patients. The changes observed in breast cancer patients were not attributable to age, obesity, inanition or stress. These metabolic abnormalities may characterize host susceptibility to breast cancer or be effects of tumor.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1975 Feb
PMID:Metabolic parameters in women with metastatic breast cancer. 4 95

Serum beta2-microglobulin levels have been measured in 210 cancer and control patients to assess the significance of this investigation in cancer patients. Subjects studied included patients with breast and gastrointestinal cancer, corresponding control patients in both categories, and healthy volunteers. The composition of these groups allowed an assessment of the relative importance of changes related to cancer, benign disease, age and sex. A significant rise in serum beta2-microglobulin levels with advancing age was demonstrated in the control subjects. Mean levels were also consistently higher in females than in males in each patient group. After statistical correction for these age and sex effects, mean values remained significantly higher in each of the various cancer groups than in their controls. Patients with more advanced breast cancer had higher levels than those with 'early' disease, as did patients with stomach cancer compared to those with colo-rectal cancer. One possible interpretation is that levels increase with increasing tumour bulk, and therefore the estimation of serum beta2-microglobulin may be useful as one of a battery of tests in the management of cancer patients.
Clin Chim Acta 1977 Jul 01
PMID:Serum beta2-microglobulin in controls and cancer patients. 6 7

There are many questions that have to be answered concerning the role of radiotherapy in the management of primary breast cancer. Hopefully, prospective clinical trials will provide some answers, but more basic research into the biology of breast cancer and the host-tumor relationship will be needed. There are indications that radiotherapy alone, or following minimal extirpative surgery in selected cases, may be as effective for control of breast cancer as conventional mastectomies. The role of radiotherapy following segmental mastectomy, with or without axillary dissection, needs to be clarified. The possibility exists that high LET (linear energy transfer) radiation such as neutron or pi meson beams may provide better local control than conventional radiation. Thus, it may be possible to treat effectively all primary breast cancers with such radiations and obviate the need for any type of mastectomy. It remains to be demonstrated whether adjuvant chemotherapy is as effective as radiotherapy in preventing chest wall and regional node recurrences. If it is not, there may be a place for both adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of operable cancer of the breast. Likewise, effective chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy may increase the local and regional control achieved with radiotherapy alone and make more primary lesions suitable for treatment without mastectomy. Meyer (1970) recently called attention to the leukopenia and cellualr immune deficiency produced by irradiation to the thorax and mediastinum. Further study is necessary to define exactly how much immunosuppression results from radiotherapy, its clinical significance and what can be done to avoid or counter it. If Stjervsward's thesis (1974) concerning the deleterious effects of radiotherapy on survival is correct, then it is of great importance to identify those patients most likely to be adversely affected by radiotherapy. Conversely, it may be possible in the future to identify a subgroup of patients who would not be adversely affected by radiation and who would be most likely to benefit from it.
Major Probl Clin Surg 1979
PMID:Cancer of the breast. Radiation therapy. 8 50

Serum beta-2 microglobulin levels were measured in normal individuals and in breast cancer patients. It was observed that there was a significant rise in levels especially in advanced stages of the disease. It was concluded that patients with a beta-2 microglobulin/creatinine ratio of greater than 3.8 were likely to have metastatic breast cancer.
Clin Chim Acta 1979 Nov 15
PMID:Study of serum beta-2 microglobulin levels in breast cancer patients. 9 58

The respective roles of estrogens and progestins on endometrial progesterone receptors (PRs) were evaluated in 16 proliferative-phase and 15 secretory-phase biopsy samples from normally menstruating women. Plasma estradiol-17-beta and progesterone were measured in both cytosol and nuclear extracts. In addition PRs were measured in biopsied tissue taken from 14 postmenopausal women who had been treated with increasing doses of ethinylestradiol (with or without chlormadinone acetate) who presented with breast cancer. Among the normally menstruating women, there were no relationships between PR concentrations and plasma steroid levels when both phases of the cycle were considered; however, a correlation of significance (P .005) was apparent between PR concentration and plasma 17-beta-estradiol when only the follicular stage was considered. In the postmenopausal women who were under treatment, ethinylestradiol administration seemed to increase PR concentration (P ,05), whereas concomitant treatment with chlorimadinone acetate blocked this increase. Therefore, mammals seem to have endometrial PR levels controlled by both estrogens and progestins.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1979 Dec
PMID:Estrogen and progestin regulation of the progesterone receptor concentration in human endometrium. 9 78

Swelling of the arm, mobility of the shoulder joint and muscle strength were examined in 76 patients with breast cancer 4.5 to 14 years (mean 8 years) after primary therapy. Marked arm swelling was found on the operated side in 31% of the patients operated by radical mastectomy and in 18% of those having undergone total mastectomy. The swelling was more marked in the upper arm than in the forearm. Patients irradiated postoperatively with a megavoltage technique showed more often and more oedema than those treated with a kilovoltage technique. Obese patients had more swelling than patients of normal weight. Of the various movements of the shoulder joint, abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, horizontal extension and internal rotation were significantly reduced on the operated side in comparison with the non-operated side, but the differences were not great. Neither swelling of the arm nor the patient's weight had any effect on the function of the shoulder joint, as expressed in terms of abduction. Of the muscle groups in the shoulder joint adductors, flexors and extensors were significantly weaker on the operated than on the non-operated side. The muscle strength of the operated side averaged 25% weaker than that of the control side. Swelling of the arm did not reduce the muscle strength of the shoulder joint.
Ann Clin Res 1978 Oct
PMID:Swelling of the upper extremity, function and muscle strength of shoulder joint following mastectomy combined with radiotherapy. 10 50

The presence or absence of estrogen receptors in the nuclei of human breast tumor may be a useful tool in determining whether the tumor will or will not respond to endocrine therapy. This paper describes an assay which measures both unoccupied and occupied nuclear receptors in human breast cancer tumors. The assay was predicated on the fact that at low salt concentration, the nuclear receptor is bound to chromatin particles and can be separated from the soluble components containing proteolytic acitivity. Nuclear estradiol receptors were measured in human breast cancer tissue (MCF-7 cell line) and in DMBA (dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary carcinomas) tumors. Complete translocation of the cytoplasmic receptor in the MCF-7 cells was observed compared to only 35-50% of the cytoplasmic receptors seen in the nucleus of the DMBA tumor after estradiol injection. The study also showed 6 pmol/mg DNA for total unoccupied nuclei and cytoplasmic estrogen receptors, and 25% of it in the nucleus; this finding differed from Zava et al's finding of 2 pmol/mg DNA and 75% in the nucleus, probably because of differing methodology or use of a later passage of cell line. 29 out of the 34 tumors with cytoplasmic receptors were found to contain unoccupied nuclear receptors, indicating that free nuclear receptors are not exceptions. The assay used in this study is currently being used to determine the translocative ability of the cytoplasmic receptors in human breast carcinomas.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1979 Jul
PMID:Estradiol binding to nuclear receptors in human breast cancer tissue (MCF-7 cell line) and in dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary carcinoma. 10 64


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