Ovarian hormones are not required for PRL-induced mammary tumorigenesis, but estrogen enhances neoplastic processes.

ABSTRACT: Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that increased prolactin (PRL) exposure raises the risk of invasive estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)-positive breast cancer in women. However, the mechanism(s) whereby this occurs and the interactions with estrogen itself in this disease remain poorly understood. In order to investigate the role of ovarian hormones in the disease process, we employed a transgenic model neu-related lipocalin (NRL)-PRL in which transgenic PRL is directed to mammary epithelial cells by the PRL- and estrogen-insensitive NRL promoter, mimicking the endogenous PRL expression within the breast observed in women. This high local exposure leads to mammary lesion development and eventually carcinomas. Ovariectomy (ovx), shortly after puberty, did not alter the incidence or la

SUBMITTER: Arendt LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2841967 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature