PROLACTIN - THE FORGOTTEN HORMONE OF HUMAN BREAST-CANCER

Prolactin (PRL) is both a mitogen and a differentiating agent in the m ammary gland. It has been shown to be involved in mammary cancer devel opment in rodents, but in human breast cancer, its role has long been overlooked. Three criteria are applied to demonstrate PRL's involvemen t in this disease: (1) PRL receptors are present in human breast cance r cells, (2) human breast cancer cells in culture respond to PRL as a mitogen, and (3) PRL is synthesized by human breast cancer cells and i nhibition of the binding of PRL to its receptors inhibits cell growth. PHARMACOL. THER. 79(2):169-178, 1998. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.