Prolactin receptors in human breast cancer.

Prolactin receptors have been measured in 92 human breast carcinomas. Both free and total receptors (after desaturation by MgCl2) have been looked for. Free receptors have been found in 46% of the cases, total receptors in 72%. Specific binding ranges from 0.8 to 8.0%. No correlation could be found between prolactin receptors and age, weight, menopausal status and pathological features (differentiation, histoprognostic grading, cellular density). A highly significant correlation has been found between prolactin receptors on the one hand and estradiol and progesterone receptors on the other.