title: Human mammaglobin transcript amplification for differential diagnosis in a breast cancer metastatic to dura mater.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In breast cancer (BC), metastases to the central nervous system usually arise in women with advanced disease. Diagnosis of leptomeningeal (LM) metastasis is based on neurological symptoms, imaging studies and cytological detection of malignant cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, often these approaches are not sensitive enough to recognize leptomeninges involvement and subsequently to make a diagnosis of LM carcinomatosis. This study investigated the employment of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the human mammaglobin (hMAM) gene in a case of BC with cerebral metastases in which the involvement of the leptomeninges was in doubt.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amplification of hMAM mRNA was performed from CSF cells by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No amplification of hMAM was obtained from the CSF cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RT-PCR for human mammaglobin mRNA of the CSF in BC patients with brain metastases may aid clinical determination of LM involvement and consequently the choice of the most effective therapy regimens for affected patients.
authors.affiliation: Anatomia e Citoistologia Patologica, National Cancer Institute (IST), L.go R. Benzi, 10, 16132 Genova, Italy. mariella.dono@istge.it
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dono
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Maria Cristiana
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dessanti
authors.forename: Bartolomeo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bacigalupo
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cibei
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capellini
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camerini
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fedeli
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roncella
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D060785:Mammaglobin A; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014598:Uteroglobin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D060785:Mammaglobin A; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C556448:SCGB2A2 protein, human; D014598:Uteroglobin