Association between prolactin and mammographic density

描述(申请人提供)：乳房的组织结构通过密度和实质模式在乳房X光检查中得到反映。研究表明，这种实质模式是过去和现在接触激素以及生殖事件的结果，这些事件影响了乳腺癌的易感性。乳房X光摄影密度的变化可能是激素和/或生长因子影响的结果。一种可能的激素是催乳素，它直接作用于乳腺上皮，产生小叶肺泡发育。催乳素是一种有丝分裂原和分化物质，特别是在怀孕和哺乳期间。这项应用的具体目标是使用横断面研究设计将绝经后妇女的血清催乳素水平和乳房密度联系起来。我还想检查催乳素基因和催乳素基因受体的遗传变异性，以了解它们可能如何影响乳房密度。到目前为止，还没有研究检查催乳素和乳房密度之间的关系。也没有任何研究检验催乳素及其受体基因的遗传多态与乳房密度的关系。这次培训将成为我癌症流行病学博士工作的基础，也将为我的研究生涯奠定基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The histologic composition of the breast is reflected mammographically by density and parenchymal pattern. Research suggests that the parenchymal pattern is a result of exposure to past and current hormones as well as reproductive events which influence susceptibility to breast cancer. The variation observed in mammographic density may be a result of the effect of hormones and/or growth factors. One possible hormone is prolactin, which acts directly on mammary epithelium to produce lobuloalveolar development. Prolactin acts as a mitogen and differentiating agent, especially during pregnancy and lactation. The specific objective of this application is to correlate serum prolactin levels and breast density in postmenopausal women using a cross-sectional study design. I also want to examine the genetic variability in the prolactin gene and prolactin gene receptor in order to understand how they may influence breast density. To date, no study has examined the association between prolactin and breast density. Nor has any study examined the association of genetic polymorphisms in the prolactin and its receptor genes and breast density. This training will form the basis of my Ph.D. work in cancer epidemiology and will provide the foundation for my research career.