Apoptosis in the normal breast has been demonstrated to be related to the menstrual cycle. The factors that influence apoptosis in the breast are reviewed, together with related variations in the degree of apoptosis to disease pathogenesis. Evidence for a relationship between mitosis and apoptosis is provided, and the implications of pregnancy and prolonged postlactational involution are discussed. Future progress will depend on active collaboration between molecular biologists and pathologists to dissect the complex signalling pathways that appear to control the apoptotic and mitotic cascades and their inter-relationships.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Ben-Jonathan, C. R. LaPensee, and E. W. LaPensee What Can We Learn from Rodents about Prolactin in Humans? Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2008; 29(1): 1 - 41. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Aneja, J. Zhou, B. Zhou, R. Chandra, and H. C. Joshi Treatment of hormone-refractory breast cancer: apoptosis and regression of human tumors implanted in mice. Mol. Cancer Ther., September 1, 2006; 5(9): 2366 - 2377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Lithgow and C. Covington Chronic Inflammation and Breast Pathology: A Theoretical Model Biol Res Nurs, October 1, 2005; 7(2): 118 - 129. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S A Khan, D Bhandare, and R T Chatterton Jr The local hormonal environment and related biomarkers in the normal breast Endocr. Relat. Cancer, September 1, 2005; 12(3): 497 - 510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Harvey and V. E. Bovbjerg Quantitative Assessment of Mammographic Breast Density: Relationship with Breast Cancer Risk Radiology, January 1, 2004; 230(1): 29 - 41. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Parton, M. Dowsett, and I. Smith Studies of apoptosis in breast cancer BMJ, June 23, 2001; 322(7301): 1528 - 1532. [Full Text] [PDF]