title: Mammaglobin a in breast cancer: existence of multiple molecular forms.
abstract: Existing serum-based markers for breast cancer all lack organ specificity. Mammaglobin A (MGA) is a 93 amino acid protein expressed almost exclusively in breast tissue. The aim of our study was to investigate the different forms of MGA protein in fibroadenomas and breast carcinomas. MGA protein was measured by Western blotting in 132 breast cancers, 29 fibroadenomas and 14 nonbreast tissues. MGA protein in breast tissue was found to exist in 2 main forms. These forms migrated with approximate molecular masses of 18 and 25 kDa. Both forms of MGA were detected more frequently in breast carcinomas compared to fibroadenomas. The high molecular weight form of MGA but not the low molecular weight form was found more frequently in hormone receptor-positive than in receptor-negative cancers. Furthermore, an inverse relationship was found between the high molecular weight form of MGA and both tumour grade and proliferation index. No significant correlation was found between the MGA proteins and either tumor size or nodal status. Our results show that MGA protein exists in 2 main forms in breast tissue. As the high molecular weight form correlated positively with hormone receptors and negatively with tumor grade and proliferation rate, its presence is likely to be associated with a favourable prognosis for breast cancer. As expression of MGA is almost breast specific, it is a promising marker for breast cancer. Its most immediate use is likely to be in detecting micrometastases from breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
authors.forename: Bríd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Arnold D K
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Enda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Niall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Higgins
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duffy
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D060785:Mammaglobin A; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011379:Prognosis; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D060765:Secretoglobins; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014598:Uteroglobin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D060785:Mammaglobin A; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011510:Proteolipids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C556448:SCGB2A2 protein, human; D060765:Secretoglobins; D014598:Uteroglobin