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British Journal of Cancer logoLink to British Journal of Cancer
. 1987 Jun;55(6):605–609. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1987.123

Glutathione localisation in benign and malignant human breast lesions.

G I Murray, M D Burke, S W Ewen
PMCID: PMC2002032  PMID: 3620301

Abstract

Reduced glutathione (GSH) has been demonstrated in benign and malignant human breast lesions using a newly developed histofluorescence technique. GSH was present in every lesion and in each case was localised to the epithelium. A semi-quantitative assessment revealed a moderate amount of GSH in normal epithelium and fibroadenoma and a high level in apocrine metaplasia, epitheliosis and intraduct carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma contained a variable amount of GSH. Correlation between fluorescence intensity and histological grade of ductal carcinomas was almost statistically significant but a relationship to oestrogen receptor status was not detected. The rapid assessment of GSH in breast cancer may aid in the selection of optimum chemotherapeutic regimens.

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Selected References

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