GROWTH-FACTOR PROFILES IN BREAST CYST FLUID IDENTIFY WOMEN WITH INCREASED BREAST-CANCER RISK

Gross cystic disease and breast cancer are hormonally induced diseases that may share a common biochemical environment conducive to abnormal proliferative responses. Breast cyst fluid samples were analyzed for specific growth factors and levels were compared with breast cancer ri sk. Growth factor profiles identified both women at increased breast c ancer risk and subgroups of women with distinct clinical manifestation s of gross cystic disease. Women at increased risk for breast cancer d emonstrated in their breast cyst fluid lower levels of platelet-derive d growth factor and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, compared to women at lower risk. The presence of multiple cysts was associated wi th increased mitogenic activity, increased epidermal growth factor (EG F) and TGF-beta breast cyst fluid levels, and recurrent cysts were ass ociated with higher levels of EGF Unique growth factor profiles were a ssociated with each risk group or clinical state, suggesting that dist inct proliferative environments, associated with different clinical ou tcomes, are present in the breast tissue of women with gross cystic di sease.