Association between prolactin and mammographic density

描述（由申请人提供）：乳房的组织学组成通过密度和实质模式反映在乳房x光检查中。研究表明，实质模式是暴露于过去和现在的激素以及影响乳腺癌易感性的生殖事件的结果。乳房x线摄影中观察到的密度变化可能是激素和/或生长因子作用的结果。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。催乳素是一种分裂原和分化剂，特别是在怀孕和哺乳期。本应用程序的具体目的是通过横断面研究设计来关联绝经后妇女血清催乳素水平和乳腺密度。我还想研究催乳素基因和催乳素基因受体的遗传变异，以便了解它们如何影响乳腺密度。到目前为止，还没有研究检验催乳素和乳腺密度之间的关系。也没有任何研究调查催乳素及其受体基因的遗传多态性与乳腺密度的关系。这次培训将成为我癌症流行病学博士工作的基础，并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.