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Serum oxytocinase activity is related to tumor growth parameters in N-methyl nitrosourea induced rat breast cancer

2004; Elsevier BV; Volume: 75; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.lfs.2004.04.009

1879-0631

María Pilar Carrera-González, Marı́a Jesús Ramı́rez-Expósito, Marı́a Teresa Valenzuela, María Jesús García García, Marı́a Dolores Mayas, José Manuel Martínez‐Martos,

Circadian rhythm and melatonin

Oxytocinase has been reported to hydrolyse the peptide hormone oxytocin (OT). We have previously described changes in oxytocinase activity in human breast cancer, where a highly significant increase occurred in tumoral tissue. In the present work, we analysed oxytocinase activity in serum of rats with breast cancer induced by N-methyl-nitrosourea (NMU). We also correlated these data with the number and size of tumors and the body weight of the animals to evaluate the putative value of this activity as a biological marker of the disease. Our results confirm the involvement of OT in carcinogenesis and suggest a mayor role for oxytocinase activity in the development of breast cancer.