Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Experimental Oncology
  • Published:

Nitric oxide synthase activity in human breast cancer

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is generated by a family of isoenzymes (NO synthases) expressed in a wide range of mammalian cells. We have recently reported NO synthase expression in human gynaecological cancers. In this study we have assessed the activity and distribution of NO synthase in a series of human breast tumours and in normal breast tissue. Calcium-dependent (constitutive) and -independent (inducible) NO synthase activity, as well as NO biosynthesis, was high in invasive tumours compared with benign or normal tissue. Furthermore, for invasive ductal carcinomas, NO biosynthesis was significantly greater for grade III compared with grade II tumours. Immunohistochemical investigations revealed immunolabelling with a monoclonal antibody to murine inducible NO synthase predominantly within tumour-associated macrophages. Immunolabelling with a polyclonal antiserum raised against rat brain NO synthase was also observed in vascular endothelial and myoepithelial cells. Thus NO synthase is expressed in human breast tumours, where its presence correlates with tumour grade.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thomsen, L., Miles, D., Happerfield, L. et al. Nitric oxide synthase activity in human breast cancer. Br J Cancer 72, 41–44 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1995.274

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1995.274

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links