TNM staging and classification (familial and nonfamilial) of breast cancer in Jordanian females.

PURPOSE: Staging of breast tumor has important implications for treatment and prognosis. This study aims at pinpointing the frequency of each stage among familial and nonfamilial breast cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-nine Jordanian females diagnosed with familial and nonfamilial breast cancer between 2000 and 2002 were enrolled in this study All breast cancer cases were staged according to the TNM classification into in situ, early invasive, advanced invasive and metastatic. RESULTS: Forty-three cases were familial breast cancer and 56 were nonfamilial. One female breast cancer was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cancer. Fifty cases were diagnosed in early stages of invasive breast cancer, of which 31 cases were familial, 29 cases were classified as advanced invasive, where 21 cases were nonfamilial and 19 cases were metastatic stage of breast cancer, with 16 nonfamilial cases. Stage 2b was the most common stage of early invasive cases and represented 48% of the early stage of breast cancer. On the other hand, among cases diagnosed with advanced invasive breast cancer, stage 3a was the most common stage and represented 89.6% of the advanced stage. Interestingly, all cases of stage 3a belonged to TNM stages of T2N2M0 and T3N1M0. The tumor size in all cases of Jordanian females diagnosed with advanced invasive breast cancer exceeded 2 cm in size due to selection bias from symptomatic women in our study. CONCLUSION: The incidence of nonfamilial breast cancer was slightly higher than that of the familial type amongst studied the Jordanian females studied. The early invasive stage of breast cancer was more common in the familial while the advanced invasive and metastatic breast cancer cases were encountered more often in the nonfamilial type. Our study was based on a small sample and symptomatic women. Therefore, more research with larger population samples is needed to confirm this conclusion.

Relationship between plasma progesterone, estradiol and prolactin concentrations and breast cancer in pre and postmenopausal women.

UNLABELLED: Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and prolactin are implicated in anumber of ways as possible causes of breast cancer. Throughout women life cycle, breast development and function depend on complex critical interplay of these hormones. The acknowledged gaps in our understanding concerning progesterone, estrogen and prolactin hormones involvement in human breast cancer has exposed the need to conduct this study for better understanding of the role played by these hormones in breast cancer during pre and post menopause status in order to influence prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Ninety women were enrolled, (80%) of them were breast cancer patients and the other (20%) were breast benign lesion patients. At attending King Hussein Medical Center, blood samples were collected and analyzed for plasma estradiol, prolactin and progesterone. Of the 72 breast cancer patients (66.6% and 33.4%), and of the 18 breast benign patients (27.8% and 72.2%) were in menopause and premenopausal, respectively. Of the breast cancer and benign patients groups, 55.6% of each had an association with either high plasma estradiol, prolactin or progesterone concentrations. Of the breast cancer patients that had association with high plasma hormonal concentrations, 47.5% had high plasma estradiol concentrations (155.0+/-36 pg/ml) and 89.5% of these were in menopause. Of the breast benign patients, 60% had high plasma prolactin concentrations (55.2+/-10.6 ng/ml). Menopausal breast cancer is associated with high plasma estradiol concentrations, while premenopausal breast benign were associated high plasma prolactin concentrations which indicate that high plasma estradiol in menopause is arisk factor for breast cancer development while high prolactin in premenopausal is arisk factor for breast benign. Therefore, breast cancer and benign are highly hormonal dependent. KEYWORDS: breast cancer, premenopausal and postmenopausal, plasma hormones.

Use of osmotic pumps for subcutaneous infusion of growth hormone-releasing factors in steers and wethers.

Osmotic pumps were evaluated for 7-d delivery of growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF). In Exp. 1, 12 steers weighing 253 kg received hGRF(1-29)NH2 in H2O at rates of 0, 3, 30 and 300 pmol.h-1.kg-1. Pumps were implanted s.c. on d 0 and removed at 1200 on d 7. Blood samples were drawn at 20-min intervals from 0800 to 1200 on d -1, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Growth hormone levels were not altered by GRF treatment (P greater than .05). Solubility and volume limitations render hGRF(1-29)NH2 delivery via osmotic pumps problematical. Flow rate and duration of release of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO):H2) (1:1) from osmotic pumps incubated in vivo and in vitro were found to be consistent with manufacturer's specifications. Two hGRF(1-29) analogues, Ro23-7863 and 4SG-29, were dissolved in DMSO:H2O. In Exp. 2, six 222-kg steers had pumps implanted and blood samples were taken as in Exp. 1. Three steers received each analogue at a rate of 300 pmol.h-1.kg-1. Analogues had similar GH-releasing ability and GH levels differed (P less than 0.001) among days, being approximately fourfold higher on d 3, 5 and 7 than on d -1, 1 and 9. Residual analogue solutions retained full bioactivity after 7-d implantation, and in vitro biopotencies of Ro23-7863 and 4SG-29 were similar (Exp. 3). In Exp. 4, 15 wethers (means = 31.3 kg) received osmotic pumps delivering 0, 3, 15, 75 and 300 pmol.h-1.kg-1 Ro23-7863 in DMSO:H2O for 7 d. Lambs were bled at 0800 and 1400 from d -1 to 8. The latter two doses increased (P less than .01) mean GH levels 2.7- and 4.3-fold over those in control animals during the treatment period. Results demonstrate that increased GH secretion can be elicited in steers and wethers for 1 wk by continuous s.c. infusion of GRF analogues utilizing osmotic pumps.

Plasma gonadotropin and progesterone concentrations during the estrous cycle of Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes.

Hormonal profiles during the estrous cycle of Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes were compared in six ewes of each breed. Blood samples were drawn by venipuncture at 8-h intervals from onset to onset of consecutive estrous periods. Number of corpora lutea (CL) and ovarian follicles >/=3 mm in diameter on Day 10 (estrus = Day 0) were observed using endoscopy. Estrous cycle length was 14.9, 15.6 and 16.4 d (P<0.01) in Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes, respectively. Finns had more (P<0.001) CL (3.5) than Suffolks (2.0) and Targhees (1.8), but luteal phase progesterone concentrations were similar among breeds in peak level and area under the curve. In Finn ewes, the amplitude of the preovulatory LH surge was lower (P<0.01) and tended to occur later in estrus; otherwise LH levels and patterns were similar among breeds. A coincident follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) preovulatory surge occurred in most ewes, the amplitude of which was related to that of luteinizing hormone (LH); r = 0.67, P<0.01. Plasma FSH levels and patterns were similar in Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes and most ewes had three to four secretory episodes. Follicles >/=3 mm averaged 1.8, 1.0 and 1.2 (P>0.1) in Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes, respectively. Results indicate that the higher ovulation rate of the Finn ewe is not elicited by increased FSH levels at any stage of the estrous cycle.

Twenty-four-hour growth hormone profiles in Angus steers.

A study was conducted in February 1984 to characterize plasma growth hormone (GH) patterns in steers. Eight Angus steers averaging 285 d of age and 276 kg were housed in a sheltered pen and group-fed once daily. Animals gained at a mean rate of .78 kg/d, with individuals ranging from .34 to 1.02 kg/d. A jugular vein cannula was inserted the day before blood sampling, which commenced at 0600 h and continued at 15-min intervals for 24 h. Growth hormone patterns consisted of frequent GH surges of varying amplitude. Growth hormone surges occurred at an average frequency of .7/h. This rate did not differ markedly among steers nor hour of day. The magnitude of GH secretory surges varied significantly among steers and during the 24-h period. Growth hormone peaks averaged 47.0 and 27.2 ng/ml in steers having the highest and lowest GH surges, respectively. During the 24-h period there were two to four 2- to 3-h periods in which GH surges were reduced in amplitude. These trough periods occurred at approximately 6-h intervals in two steers, imparting rhythmicity to GH profiles of these animals. Periods of reduced surge amplitudes and intervening secretory episodes were less periodic in the other steers. Steers were fed at 1400 h and in all steers GH levels fell from 1400 to 1600 h, and then rebounded with two to four high amplitude surges. Peak and mean GH levels were associated positively (r = .93, P less than .01) and both were associated negatively with rates of gain (r = -.82 and -.74, respectively; P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing factor in selected and control Holstein heifer calves.

Holstein heifer calves from selected and control lines were treated with growth hormone-releasing factor to determine whether the magnitude of the pituitary growth hormone response is associated with genetic potential for milk yield. Cows in the selected line were bred to highest Predicted Difference milk sires available each year, while control line cows were bred to bulls that were average for 1964 milk production. Eight calves from each line of similar age (206 to 210 days) and weight (205 kg average) were injected intravenously with .1 microgram/kg growth hormone-releasing factor. Dams' first lactation 305-day mature equivalent records were 10,192 +/- 495 kg for selected calves and 6,908 +/- 376 kg for control calves. Before treatment, GH tended to be higher in selected than control calves (mean +/- SE: selected = 7.5 +/- 1.8, control = 4.6 +/- .4 ng/ml). After injection, peak GH were reached within 20 min and were similar in selected and control calves, averaging 66 +/- 16 and 73 +/- 13 ng/ml, respectively. Results indicate that the magnitude of the growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing factor is not related to future performance of dairy calves.