Cancer Letters
Volume 243, Issue 2 , Pages 160-169, 18 November 2006

Prolactin and breast cancer risk

  • Shelley S. Tworoger

      Affiliations

    • Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
    • Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Tel.: +1 617 525 2087; fax: +1 617 525 2008.
    • ,
  • Susan E. Hankinson

      Affiliations

    • Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
    • Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

Received 14 December 2005; received in revised form 27 January 2006; accepted 30 January 2006.

Abstract 

Prolactin, a hormone involved in normal breast development and lactation, has been hypothesized to be important in the etiology of breast cancer. This review summarizes in vitro, animal, and epidemiologic data supporting this hypothesis. Experimental evidence indicates that prolactin can promote cell proliferation and survival, increase cell motility, and support tumor vascularization. Animal data suggest that prolactin can increase tumor growth rates and the number of metastases, as well as induce both estrogen receptor +(ER) and ER− tumors in a transgenic mouse model in which ER+ tumors are very rare. Epidemiologic data for premenopausal women are sparse; however a recent study with 235 cases reported a significant positive association between plasma prolactin levels and breast cancer risk. Studies in postmenopausal women have reported a positive association as well, and in the largest study (n=851 cases) the association was strongest for ER+ tumors. Overall, the available data support the hypothesis that prolactin increases risk of breast cancer. Future research directions include better characterizing the potential interplay between prolactin and estrogen and determining whether genetic variability in prolactin-related genes is associated with breast cancer risk.

Keywords: Prolactin, Breast cancer, Menopausal status

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0304-3835(06)00094-2

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2006.01.032

Cancer Letters
Volume 243, Issue 2 , Pages 160-169, 18 November 2006

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution