Peripheral blood mammaglobin gene expression for diagnosis and prediction of metastasis in breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the value of peripheral blood mammaglobin (MG) gene expression for diagnosis and prediction of metastasis in breast cancer patients.


METHODS
MG expression was detected by nested reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood of 46 females (32 breast cancer, 12 benign breast lesions, 2 no breast abnormalities). In total 28 breast cancer patients were followed up through a period of 34 months for the development of metastasis.


RESULTS
MG expression was detected in 16/32 (50%) breast cancer patients but not in patients with benign lesions or healthy participants. Five patients had metastasis at diagnosis. During the 34 months of follow up, five more MG-positive patients showed metastatic lesions and none of the MG negative patients who were followed up developed metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests blood MG expression is a specific molecular marker for detection of occult mammary carcinoma cells of patients with operable breast cancer. It might be of value as a predictor of subsequent metastasis. Large-scale studies and longer follow-up periods are needed.
Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menofiya University, Shebein El-Kom, Menofiya, Egypt.
Wafaa M
WM
Radwan
Heba S
HS
Moussa
Enas S
ES
Essa
Samia H
SH
Kandil
Azza M
AM
Kamel
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D060785:Mammaglobin A / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D060785:Mammaglobin A; D012333:RNA, Messenger