Ectopic production of human placental lactogen by human breast tumors

Serum samples from 72 patients with established carcinoma of the breast were investigated for ectopic presence of hPL. Further, the relationship of ectopically-secreted hPL and hCG-β in breast cancer was investigated. Ten of 72 patients examined had detectable hPL and 12 had detectable hCG-β, at 1-2 ng/ml serum sensitivity of the assay. The presence of hPL in serum of breast cancer patients was found to be independent of that of hCG-β. Sera of 13 patients with cystic mastitis, five with fibroadenoma, two with acute inflamation of breast, 20 normal women (non-pregnant) and 20 normal men did not show any detectable serum hPL or hCG-β at the above mentioned sensitivity of the assay. Since these hormones were not detectable in normal men, normal non-pregnant women, and in patients having other pathological conditions of breast, the possible use of them as markers in cancer is expected

Influence of bromoergocryptine on estrogen-modulated prolactin receptors of mouse mammary gland

Modulation of specific binding of prolactin to murine mammary gland as a response to treatment with various doses of estradiol benzoate (EB) was studied. Measurements of serum and pituitary levels of prolactin were also carried out simultaneously. Estradiol benzoate at a dose of 5 μgram significantly increased the binding of <SUP>125</SUP>I-labelled rat prolactin (rPRL) to mammary gland concomitant with increased serum prolactin levels in ovariectomized mice. Administration of bromoergocryptine along with EB resulted in decreased serum prolactin levels as well as binding of prolactin to breast tissue. It thus appears that the influence of estradiol on binding of prolactin to mammary gland is mediated primarily via its property of enhancing serum prolactin concentration apart from its possible direct effect at the target tissue level

Inappropriate secretion of human placental lactogen and β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin by cancer of the uterine cervix

Human placental lactogen (hPL) and the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) were studied in serum samples of (a) 45 patients with cancer of the uterine cervix, (b) 30 normal men, and (c) 30 normal nonpregnant women. Sera of 27 of 45 (60%) and 13 of 32 (41%) patients with cervical cancer were positive for hPL and β-hCG, respectively. hPL and β-hCG were not detectable in sera of normal subjects mentioned above. Serum hPL was detected with similar incidence in patients with cancer of cervix of grades II, III, and IV (FIGO classification) whereas β-hCG was found with increasing incidence in association with increasing clinical grades. That Serum hPL was not detectable in normal or nonneoplastic conditions and its high incidence in cervical cancer patients indicate its possible use as marker in cancer of cervix

Immunocytochemical localization of follicle stimulating hormone in normal human stomach

Immunoreactive follicle-stimulating hormone (IR-FSH) is detected in sections of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded gastric mucosal tissue of normal men, using the immunoperoxidase staining technique and specific antisera to hFSH (NIDDK, NIH). Positive staining for IR-FSH was detected in the parietal cells lining the gastric glands of the intermediate zone. The staining was intracytoplasmic and distributed throughout the cytoplasm. IR-FSH was also found to be present in the basal part of the foveolar epithelium. Stromal tissue and nuclei were devod of the stain. The zymogen cells in the deeper region of the mucosa did not show any detectable staining for IR-FSH. The presence of IR-FSH in gastric mucosa was also detected by radioimmunoassay. Gel chromatography of the gastric tissue extract showed a single peak of FSH immunoreactivity that coeluted with the 125I-labled highly purified FSH preparation (NIDDK, NIH). Furthermore, the FSH in the pituitary tissue extract had a chromatographic profile similar to that of IR-FSH from gastric tissue, and 125I-FSH labeled highly purified FSH, indicating a close resemblance in their molecular sizes. These results demonstrate that IR-FSH is present in the normal human gastric mucosa. The role of this regulatory petpide in gastric tissue, if any, needs to be investigated

Immunoperoxidase localization and denovo biosynthesis of a 10.5-kDa inhibin in benign and malignant conditions of human breast

Using immunocytochemistry, we report the occurrence of a 10.5-kDa inhibin in human breast tissue specimens obtained from normal, fibroadenoma and adenocarcinoma cases. The immunostaining for inhibin was confined to the cytoplasm of the epithelium and myoepithelium cells. Expression of inhibin increased in following order: normal (1+); adenocarcinoma and lobular carcinoma in situ (2+) and fibroadenoma (4+). Breast explants has the ability of denovo biosynthesis of inhibin in vitro. In view of the growth modulating regulatory properties of 10.5 kDa inhibin, our findings are suggestive of the potential role of inhibin in breast pathology

Occurrence and de novo biosynthesis of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in benign and malignant conditions of human breast

We report the occurrence as well as biosynthesis of a pituitary hormone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in human breast. Using immunoperoxidase localization technique, both FSH and β-FSH were localized in cytoplasm of epithelial cells but not in stromal cells. Immunostaining was more intense in benign and malignant specimens as compared to normal. In vitro radiolabelled precursor experiments with breast tissue explants indicate de novo synthesis of FSH. Human milk had higher concentrations of FSH as compared to serum. In gonads, FSH is involved in the cellular growth, differentiation and function. The presence of higher levels of FSH in benign mammary tumors and breast cancer when compared to normal breast supports the suggestion that FSH might have a role in the process of breast malignant transformation