STUDIES ON SERUM PROLACTIN (PRL) AND TSH IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER

Abstract

Serum prolactin (PRL) and TSH basal levels and the responses of serum PRL and TSH to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) were investigated by radioimmunoassay in patients with breast cancer, who were classified in the following four groups : New T13, M0 breast cancer patients (N = 70), M1 or recurrent breast cancer patients (N = 50), locally advanced breast cancer patients (N = 8) and post-biopsied breast caner patients (N =28).Serum samples were taken 7 times before and for 3 hours after administration of TRH (0.5mg, i.v.). These were examined for basal and peak values, and reaction patterns.PRL levels : Patients with locally advanced and post-biopsied breast cancer indicated high PRL levels in the basal and peak values (P < 0.01), and showed an excessive-prolonged pattern to TRH.TSH levels : Patients with locally advanced and M1 or recurrent breast cancer indicated high TSH levels in the basal and peak values and showed an excessive-prolonged pattern to TRH.To examine the detailed variations within the group of the patients with recurrent breast cancer, they were classified in the following 3 subgroups : locoregional recurrent breast cancer (N =10), skeletal metastatic breast cancer (N = 22), and visceral metastatic breast cancer (N =6).The locoregional recurrent patients showed high PRL levels in the basal and peak values. The skeletal metastasized patients with breast cancer tended to show high TSH levels in the basal and peak values.To comfirm whether local (intercostal nerve) stimulation gives any effect on high serum PRL levels in the patients with locally advanced breast cancer, epidural anesthesia was performed 24 hours in accordance with Keegan's dermatome.As a result, basal PRL values tended to decrease in the cases blocked satisfactorily, but peak PRL values indicated no change even though blocked satisfactorily. It might be caused by short anesthetic duration.Post-biopsied breast cancer patients indicated also high PRL levels in the basal and peak values, but compared post-biopsied breast cancer to post-biopsied benign mammary tumor, both indicated increment of serum PRL peak values. High serum PRL levels of post-biopsied breast cancer patients might be caused by manipulation of biopsy itself.