Quantification of epidermal growth factor in human breast cyst fluids: Correlation with dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate and electrolyte concentrations

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Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA)-sulphate and [Na+] and [K+] were assayed in 78 cyst fluids from patients with a palpable breast cyst. Epidermal growth factor was detected in all but 2 cysts, the mean value ± Sem being 506.2 ± 39.3 ng/ml, with a range of 0-1,599 ng/ml. When the cyst fluids were sub-divided according to their [Na+]:[K+] ratio, group A cyst fluids ([Na+]:[K+] < 3) had a significantly higher (p < 0.001) level of EGF than group B cyst fluids ([Na+]:[K+] > 3). Furthermore, the relationship between EGF and [Na+] and [K+] and between EGF and DHA-sulphate seemed to differ between the 2 cyst types and each cyst type was therefore analyzed separately.