title: Serum level of angiogenin in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Angiogenin (ANG), a potent inducer of neovascularization, is secreted by some types of human tumor cells and appears crucial for their growth. This study was designed with the aim to investigate any correlation between the serum angiogenin and the clinicopathological variables and furthermore evaluate the prognostic value of serum angiogenin in patients with breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer undergoing surgery were prospectively included and evaluated. Venous blood samples were collected before surgery. Sera were obtained by centrifugation and stored at -70 degrees C until assayed. The control group consisted of 16 patients with benign breast tumor (8 with fibrocystic disease and 8 with fibroadenoma). Serum concentration of angiogenin was measured by the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. The data on primary tumor staging, age, estrogen receptor, lymph node status, distant metastases and TNM staging were reviewed and recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean value of serum angiogenin in patients with invasive breast cancer was 2123.95 +/- 324.34 pg/ml and that of control group were 2108.16 +/- 398.20 pg/ml (fibrocystic disease) and 2010.27 +/- 318.40 pg/ml (fibroadenoma). The difference was not significant (p = 0.66). Furthermore, with univariate analysis, there were no significant differences in serum angiogenin levels between the subgroups of the above-mentioned clinicopathological variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum angiogenin levels did not appear as a meaningful prognostic parameter for invasive breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sheen-Chen
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000097:blood; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C046366:angiogenin; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic