title: Evaluation of serum Amphiregulin levels in breast cancer patients and cancer-free controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expression of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor ligand, Amphiregulin, has been associated with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. As Amphiregulin is proteolytically released from the surface of breast cancer cells, we investigated the levels of Amphiregulin in the serum of breast cancer patients and cancer-free women to evaluate its potential utility as a breast cancer biomarker.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum Amphiregulin levels were quantified by ELISA from 125 cancer-free women and 114 breast cancer patients. No significant association between serum Amphiregulin levels and breast cancer status was detected at two cut-points evaluated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of serum Amphiregulin levels lacks the necessary sensitivity and specificity for breast cancer screening in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Developmental & Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. paraic.kenny@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Esther A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pectasides
authors.forename: Shabana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shabbeer
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wiechmann
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sparano
authors.forename: Paraic A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kenny