Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Cancer logoLink to British Journal of Cancer
. 1985 Jun;51(6):827–836. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1985.128

Prostaglandin F2 alpha in benign and malignant breast tumours.

I B Vergote, G M Laekeman, G H Keersmaekers, F L Uyttenbroeck, J S Vanderheyden, G P Albertyn, C F Haensch, G J De Roy, A G Herman
PMCID: PMC1977075  PMID: 3859318

Abstract

Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) was determined by radioimmunoassay in 57 breast carcinomata, 16 fibroadenomata, and 33 sclero-cystic-disease (SCD) specimens. In 41 cases of carcinoma and 10 cases of fibroadenoma, histologically non-malignant tissue was also obtained from the same breast. PGF2 alpha levels were significantly elevated in breast cancer when compared with the normal tissues and benign diseases (P less than 0.005 for each group). High PGF2 alpha levels were positively correlated with differentiation, positive oestrogen and progestagen receptor status, and low mitotic index. Tumours with good prognosis (less than 20 mm, negative lymph nodes, some degree of differentiation) showed significantly higher PGF2 alpha levels than tumours with a bad prognosis (greater than 20 mm, positive nodes and undifferentiated). A tendency for elevated PGF2 alpha levels was observed with negative lymphatic permeation, postmenopausal status, low grade of nuclear and cellular polymorphism and high degree of elastosis and fibrosis. No correlation was observed between PGF2 alpha levels and host-cell reaction. Plasma levels of 15-keto-13, 14-dihydro-PGF2 alpha were not elevated in cancer patients when compared with the SCD-group. The present study demonstrates that PGF2 alpha levels are high in tumours with good prognosis. However, since other authors have suggested that a high PGE2 production is a bad prognostic index, it is possible that conversion of PGE2 to PGF2 alpha by 9-keto-reductase explains this relationship. Nevertheless, the presented results question the unrestricted use of prostaglandin-synthesis-inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer.

Full text

PDF
827

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ashendel C. L., Boutwell R. K. Prostaglandin E and F levels in mouse epidermis are increased by tumor-promoting phorbol esters. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1979 Sep 27;90(2):623–627. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(79)91280-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BLOOM H. J., RICHARDSON W. W. Histological grading and prognosis in breast cancer; a study of 1409 cases of which 359 have been followed for 15 years. Br J Cancer. 1957 Sep;11(3):359–377. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1957.43. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bennett A., Berstock D. A., Carroll M. A., Stamford I. F., Wilson A. J. Breast cancer, its recurrence, and patient survival in relation to tumor prostaglandins. Adv Prostaglandin Thromboxane Leukot Res. 1983;12:299–302. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bennett A., Carter R. L., Stamford I. F., Tanner N. S. Prostaglandin-like material extracted from squamous carcinomas of the head and neck. Br J Cancer. 1980 Feb;41(2):204–208. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1980.31. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bennett A., Charlier E. M., McDonald A. M., Simpson J. S., Stamford I. F., Zebro T. Prostaglandins and breast cancer. Lancet. 1977 Sep 24;2(8039):624–626. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(77)92496-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bennett A., McDonald A. M., Simpson J. S., Stamford I. F. Breast cancer, prostaglandins, and bone metastases. Lancet. 1975 May 31;1(7918):1218–1220. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)92197-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bradford M. M. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem. 1976 May 7;72:248–254. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Bregman M. D., Meyskens F. L., Jr Inhibition of human malignant melanoma colony-forming cells in vitro by prostaglandin A1. Cancer Res. 1983 Apr;43(4):1642–1645. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Bresnick E., Meunier P., Lamden M. Epidermal prostaglandins after topical application of a tumor promotor. Cancer Lett. 1979 Jul;7(2-3):121–125. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(79)80106-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Brune K., Glatt M., Kälin H., Peskar B. A. Pharmacological control of prostaglandin and thromboxane release from macrophages. Nature. 1978 Jul 20;274(5668):261–263. doi: 10.1038/274261a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Droller M. J. Prostaglandins and neoplasia. J Urol. 1981 Jun;125(6):757–760. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)55196-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Favalli C., Garaci E., Etheredge E., Santoro M. G., Jaffe B. M. Influence of PGE on the immune response in melanoma-bearing mice. J Immunol. 1980 Aug;125(2):897–902. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Goodwin J. S. Prostaglandins and host defense in cancer. Med Clin North Am. 1981 Jul;65(4):829–844. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)31500-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Granström E., Kindahl H. Radioimmunoassay of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Adv Prostaglandin Thromboxane Res. 1978;5:119–210. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Greaves M., Ibbotson K. J., Atkins D., Martin T. J. Prostaglandins as mediators of bone resorption in renal and breast tumours. Clin Sci (Lond) 1980 Mar;58(3):201–210. doi: 10.1042/cs0580201. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Honn K. V., Bockman R. S., Marnett L. J. Prostaglandins and cancer: a review of tumor initiation through tumor metastasis. Prostaglandins. 1981 May;21(5):833–864. doi: 10.1016/0090-6980(81)90240-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Honn K. V., Cicone B., Skoff A. Prostacyclin: a potent antimetastatic agent. Science. 1981 Jun 12;212(4500):1270–1272. doi: 10.1126/science.7015512. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Humes J. L., Bonney R. J., Pelus L., Dahlgren M. E., Sadowski S. J., Kuehl F. A., Jr, Davies P. Macrophages synthesis and release prostaglandins in response to inflammatory stimuli. Nature. 1977 Sep 8;269(5624):149–151. doi: 10.1038/269149a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Jubiz W., Frailey J., Smith J. B. Inhibitory effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha on the growth of a hormone-dependent rat mammary tumor. Cancer Res. 1979 Mar;39(3):998–1000. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Karmali R. A. Review: prostaglandins and cancer. Prostaglandins Med. 1980 Jul;5(1):11–28. doi: 10.1016/0161-4630(80)90086-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Kelly J. P., Parker C. W. Effects of arachidonic acid and other unsaturated fatty acids on mitogenesis in human lymphocytes. J Immunol. 1979 Apr;122(4):1556–1562. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kibbey W. E., Bronn D. G., Minton J. P. Prostaglandin synthetase and prostaglandin E2 levels in human breast carcinoma. Prostaglandins Med. 1979 Feb;2(2):133–139. doi: 10.1016/0161-4630(79)90048-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Malachi T., Chaimoff C., Feller N., Halbrecht I. Prostaglandin E2 and cyclic AMP in tumor and plasma of breast cancer patients. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 1981;102(1):71–79. doi: 10.1007/BF00410536. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Owen K., Gomolka D., Droller M. J. Production of prostaglandin E2 by tumor cells in vitro. Cancer Res. 1980 Sep;40(9):3167–3171. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Powles T. J., Coombes R. C., Neville A. M., Ford H. T., Gazet J. C., Levine L. 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin E2 concentrations in serum of patients with breast cancer. Lancet. 1977 Jul 16;2(8029):138–138. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(77)90146-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Powles T. J., Dowsett M., Easty G. C., Easty D. M., Neville A. M. Breast-cancer osteolysis, bone metastases, and anti-osteolytic effect of aspirin. Lancet. 1976 Mar 20;1(7960):608–610. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)90416-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Rolland P. H., Martin P. M., Jacquemier J., Rolland A. M., Toga M. Prostaglandin in human breast cancer: Evidence suggesting that an elevated prostaglandin production is a marker of high metastatic potential for neoplastic cells. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1980 May;64(5):1061–1070. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Simmet T., Jaffe B. M. Inhibition of B-16 melanoma growth in vitro by prostaglandin D2. Prostaglandins. 1983 Jan;25(1):47–54. doi: 10.1016/0090-6980(83)90134-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Stamford I. F., MacIntyre J., Bennett A. Human breast carcinomas release prostaglandin-like material into the blood. Adv Prostaglandin Thromboxane Res. 1980;6:571–573. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Stringfellow D. A., Fitzpatrick F. A. Prostaglandin D2 controls pulmonary metastasis of malignant melanoma cells. Nature. 1979 Nov 1;282(5734):76–78. doi: 10.1038/282076a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Watson D. M., Kelly R. W., Hawkins R. A., Miller W. R. Prostaglandins in human mammary cancer. Br J Cancer. 1984 Apr;49(4):459–464. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1984.73. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Cancer are provided here courtesy of Cancer Research UK

RESOURCES