title: Zn-alpha 2-glycoprotein levels in breast cancer cytosols and correlation with clinical, histological and biochemical parameters.
abstract: Zn-alpha 2-glycoprotein (Zn-alpha 2-gp), a protein present at high levels in breast cyst fluid, has been measured in 104 breast tumour cytosols by using an immunoenzymatic assay. Concentrations of Zn-alpha 2-gp ranged from 0 to 23.5 micrograms/mg of total soluble protein, with an average value of 2.4 micrograms/mg. There was no significant correlation between Zn-alpha 2-gp and menopausal status, tumour size or lymph node involvement, or between this protein and biochemical parameters such as oestrogen receptor, cathepsin D or pS2 levels. However, there was a significant association between Zn-alpha 2-gp and histological grade of tumours, with higher Zn-alpha 2-gp levels in well-differentiated tumours (mean 4.6 micrograms/mg) than in moderately (1.8 micrograms/mg) or poorly (0.9 micrograms/mg) differentiated tumours. On the basis of these results, we propose that Zn-alpha 2-gp may be considered as a biochemical marker of differentiation in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Funcional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Díez-Itza
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Allende
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vizoso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruibal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López-Otín
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein