The expression of mammaglobin mRNA in peripheral blood of metastatic breast cancer patients as an adjunct to serum tumor markers.
We conducted a study to compare the expression of human mammaglobin (hMAM) mRNA in breast cancer patients' peripheral blood with serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 15.3. A total of 33 metastatic breast cancer patients were enrolled. The blood samples were used to test the expression of hMAM mRNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and CEA, CA 15.3 by radioimmunoassay. The serum CEA and CA 15.3 levels were elevated in 17 (51%) and 23 (69%) of the patients, respectively. When combined CEA with CA 15.3, the sensitivity rate raised to 78%. hMAM mRNA was detected in 18 (54%) of the 33 patients. When combined hMAM mRNA with CEA or CA 15.3, the sensitivity rate were 81% and 90%, respectively (P=0.045). In conclusion, the hMAM mRNA RT-PCR can be an adjunct in detecting metastatic breast cancer.
Lin
Yung-Chang
YC
Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199 Tung Hwa North Road, Taipei 105, Taiwan.
Wu Chou
Yah-Huei
YH
Liao
I-Ching
IC
Cheng
Ann-Joy
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D060785:Mammaglobin A; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000737:chemistry; D014598:Uteroglobin / Q000235:genetics*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D060785:Mammaglobin A; D018396:Mucin-1; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C556448:SCGB2A2 protein, human; D014598:Uteroglobin