Concentrations of growth factors in serum in women with primary ductal breast cancer

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess growth factors in serum in women with breast cancer. These factors were analyzed according to the histological malignancy, diameter of tumour mass and the number of involved lymph nodes.
Material and methods: The study comprised 125 women divided into two groups: I, the control group comprising 60 women without pathological changes in breast glands; and II, the study group, comprising 65 women with primary ductal breast cancer. The breast cancer cases were determined by means of clinical and biophysical methods. Mean age of women in the control group was 49.56 ±6.36, and body mass index (BMI) was 23.16 ±2.98. Mean age in the study group was 54.6 ±10.89 and BMI was 27.47 ±10.9. The concentrations of growth factors in serum were assessed by means of immunoenzymatic ELISA method with R&D System sets. Oestrogen receptors were revealed by means of the immunohistoenzymatic method with Dako Firm sets.
Results: The concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor β (TGF-b), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in serum of women with breast cancer were significantly higher compared to the control group. It was found that the concentrations of EGF, TGF-b and IGF-1 were dependent on the histological malignancy, the diameter of tumour mass and the number of involved lymph nodes.
Conclusions: 1. Significant increase in concentration of growth factors in serum in women with primary ductal breast cancer could suggest their local synthesis. 2. The increase of concentrations of EGF, TGF-b and IGF-1 is dependent on the degree of histological malignancy, the diameter of tumour mass and the number of involved lymph nodes.