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Title: Epidermal growth factor-like proteins in breast fluid and human milk

Journal Article · · Life Sci.; (United States)

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the transforming growth factor-..cap alpha.. (TGF-..cap alpha..) family of proteins, which also bind to the EGF receptor, have been associated with human breast cancer. The total EGF-like proteins were determined by a radioreceptor assay, and TGF-..cap alpha.. by radioimmunoassay, in human milk and breast fluid samples. The breast fluids were collected by nipple aspiration from health premenopausal women. Both the 24 milks and 18 breast fluids assayed contained EGF-like proteins, at concentrations ranging from 32-600 ng/ml and 62-654 ng/ml respectively. Immunoreactive TGF-..cap alpha.. proteins were detected at higher levels in 21 breast fluids than in 24 milk samples.

Research Organization:
American Health Foundation, Valhalla, NY (USA)
OSTI ID:
5210188
Journal Information:
Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 42:18
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English