A retrospective study was performed on 69 breast cancer patients (stage II, N=18; advanced disease, N=51) in order to assess the prognostic value of circulating prolactin (PRL), CEA, CA 15-3, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) by RIA/IRMA. These markers were compared with short-term prognosis (two years). Significant difference was observed only for PRL (<20.0 ng/ml vs. >20.0 ng/ml), which provide an independent predictor of short-term prognosis in advanced breast cancer.