[Expression of a plant associated human cancer antigen in breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of a glycoprotein of plant origin in normal, benign and malignant breast tissues.


METHODS
Expression of a plant glycoprotein was examined in 5 samples of normal breast tissues, 20 fibro-adenoma and 136 breast cancer by SABC immunohistochemical staining and the results were analyzed by SPSS statistics software.


RESULTS
No positive staining was detected in normal breast tissues (0/5). Weak staining was observed in 4 of 20 (20.0%) breast fibro-adenoma. Positive staining was demonstrated in 116 out of 136 (85.3%) breast cancer specimens. The differences were statistically significant. The expression of plant-associated human cancer antigen was related to pathological grade (P < 0.05), tissue invasiveness (P < 0.01) and recurrence (P < 0.05), but not to patients' age, tumor size and c-erbB-2 expression.


CONCLUSIONS
The plant glycoprotein studied may be a human cancer-associated antigen which might be a potential marker of breast cancer.
Fu
Jun
J
Medical Center for Tumor Detection, Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Tian
Hai-mei
HM
Qu
Ping
P
Li
Mo
M
Zheng
Xin-wen
XW
Zheng
Zhen-hai
ZH
Zhang
Wei
W
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001940:Breast / Q000276:immunology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000276:immunology*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases