title: Soluble VCAM-1 and E-selectin in breast cancer: relationship with staging and with the detection of circulating cancer cells.
abstract: In breast cancer, the correct evaluation of cancer dissemination is essential to establish prognosis and treatment choices. This study analyses the relationship between circulating levels of soluble VCAM-1 and E-selectin and the presence of circulating cancer cells in breast cancer patients. Plasma levels of VCAM-1 and E-selectin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The presence of circulating cancer cells was diagnosed using a RT nested-PCR assay detecting the cancer specific transcript, epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) mRNA. Blood samples were collected from 64 patients divided in three groups: group A of 11 women selected for neoadjuvant chemotherapy; group B of 13 women with metastatic disease and group C, with 40 women having completed their treatment at least one year ago and with no evidence of relapse. The mutant transcript was detected in 45.5% of patients from group A, in 61.5% of patients from group B and in none of the group C patients. For both VCAM-1 and E-selectin, plasma levels increased with disease staging and with the presence of EGFRvIII mRNAin peripheral blood. The differences were statistically significant (p < 0.025) when group C was compared with all patients from group B, with patients from group B with EGFRvIII positive results or with all patients with EGFRvIII positive results. Increased plasma levels of VCAM-1 and E-selectin are associated with advanced stage of breast cancer and with the presence of circulating cancer cells. The combined analysis of these parameters may contribute to a more accurate evaluation of cancer dissemination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Coimbra University Medical School, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal. hcoimbra@ci.uc.pt
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcao
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: De Oliveira
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Regateiro
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015996:Survival Rate; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019040:E-Selectin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C410723:epidermal growth factor receptor VIII; D066246:ErbB Receptors