CEA-, Her2/neu-, BCRP- and Hsp27-positive microparticles in breast cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
This is the first prospective case-control study that evaluates the expression of tumour-specific antigens on circulating microparticles (MP) in breast cancer patients and in women with benign breast tumour.


METHODS
MP were determined by flow cytometry in patients with breast cancer (n=34; T1 (n=19) and T2 (n=15)) and women with benign breast tumour (n=19).


RESULTS
Patients with lymph node metastases (N1, n=9) showed significantly higher numbers of annexin V(+) MP (p=0.042), CD66(+) MP (p=0.045), BCRP1(+) MP (breast cancer resistance protein) (p=0.025) and Hsp27(+) MP (p=0.034) than controls. Furthermore, T1 patients had significantly higher levels of annexin V(+) MP (p=0.004), CD66(+) MP (p=0.025), BCRP1(+) MP (p=0.008) and Hsp27(+) MP (p=0.02) than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant differences are present between breast cancer patients with lymph node metastases and controls concerning annexin V-, CD66-, BCRP1- and Hsp27-positive MP. To specify the role of these MP subpopulations in breast cancer progression, further studies enrolling larger patient groups are part of ongoing research.
Liebhardt
Susanne
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. susanne.liebhardt@med.uni-muenchen.de
Ditsch
Nina
N
Nieuwland
Rienk
R
Rank
Andreas
A
Jeschke
Udo
U
Von Koch
Franz
F
Friese
Klaus
K
Toth
Bettina
B
D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles; D005260:Female; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D017304:Annexin A5; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C116614:ABCG2 protein, human; C057725:HSPB1 protein, human; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human