Mammaglobin as a novel breast cancer biomarker: multigene reverse transcription-PCR assay and sandwich ELISA.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to examine the potential usefulness of a mammaglobin multigene reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay and a mammaglobin sandwich ELISA as diagnostic tools in breast cancer.


METHODS
We studied peripheral blood samples from 147 untreated Senegalese women with biopsy-confirmed breast cancer and gathered patient information regarding demographic, and clinical staging of disease. The samples were tested for mammaglobin and three breast cancer-associated gene transcripts by a multigene real-time RT-PCR assay and for serum mammaglobin protein by a sandwich ELISA assay.


RESULTS
In 77% of the breast cancer blood samples, a positive signal was obtained in the multigene RT-PCR assay detecting mammaglobin and three complementary transcribed genes. Fifty samples from healthy female donors tested negative. Significant correlations were found between mammaglobin protein in serum, presence of mammaglobin mRNA-expressing cells in blood, stage of disease, and tumor size. Circulating mammaglobin protein was detected in 68% of the breast cancer sera, and was increased in 38% in comparison with a mixed control population. The RT-PCR assay and the ELISA for mammaglobin produced a combined sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 97%.


CONCLUSIONS
The ELISA and RT-PCR for mammaglobin and mammaglobin-producing cells could be valuable tools for diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer.
Zehentner
Barbara K
BK
Corixa Corporation, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
Persing
David H
DH
Deme
Amadou
A
Toure
Papa
P
Hawes
Stephen E
SE
Brooks
Lisa
L
Feng
Qinghua
Q
Hayes
Dawn C
DC
Critichlow
Cathy W
CW
Houghton
Raymond L
RL
Kiviat
Nancy B
NB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D060785:Mammaglobin A; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014598:Uteroglobin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D060785:Mammaglobin A; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C556448:SCGB2A2 protein, human; D014598:Uteroglobin