title: Elevated plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin in breast cancer.
abstract: Beta-thromboglobulin, a platelet-specific protein secreted into the plasma during the release reaction, was measured in 73 women with breast cancer, 10 women with dysplastic disease and 30 healthy female control subjects. 73% of patients with primary operable breast cancer and 65% with metastatic disease had levels above 40 ng/ml (control range 11-38 ng/ml). Among 2-6 months' postoperative patients without evidence of disease at the time of sampling, beta-thromboglobulin was raised in 75% of patients with nodal involvement and in 28% of patients without nodal involvement. Only 1 of 10 patients with benign disease showed abnormal beta-thromboglobulin concentration. Our results show that in a high percentage of breast cancer patients a state of ongoing in vivo platelet activation may be present. Furthermore, beta-thromboglobulin can be regarded as a potential tumor marker in breast cancer.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin