Detection of human mammaglobin A mRNA in peripheral blood of breast cancer patients before treatment and association with metastasis.
BACKGROUND
Mammaglobin A (MGA), mainly expressed in the breast epithelium, is overexpressed in breast cancer, and has been established as a tumor and promissory marker for the early detection of metastasis.


OBJECTIVE
The main aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the presence of the MGA transcript in the peripheral blood of Brazilian breast cancer patients and healthy women and the development of breast cancer and tumor progression.


METHODS
The expression of the MGA transcript in peripheral blood of 102 breast cancer patients and 102 healthy women was assessed by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
MGA mRNA was expressed in the peripheral blood of 39 breast cancer patients and in none of the women from the control group. The presence of MGA was significantly associated with presence of metastasis and age at onset after 60 years. The presence of MGA mRNA in peripheral blood displayed a sensitivity of 38.2%, specificity of 100.0%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 100.0%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 61.8% as a breast cancer marker.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides additional evidence of the presence of MGA in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients, and its applicability as an efficient biomarker for breast cancer (High specificity and PPV). To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the expression of MGA mRNA in peripheral blood obtained from the Brazilian population.
Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Bloco G., Avenue Bandeirantes, 3900, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: afaristizabal@usp.br.
Andrés Felipe
AF
Aristizábal-Pachón
Department of Oncology, Hospital Santa Casa of Ribeirão Preto, Avenue Saudade, 356, 14085-000 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Thais Inácio
TI
de Carvalho
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Helio Humberto Angotti
HH
Carrara
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Jurandyr Moreira
JM
de Andrade
Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Bloco G., Avenue Bandeirantes, 3900, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Catarina Satie
CS
Takahashi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D060785:Mammaglobin A / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D060785:Mammaglobin A; D012333:RNA, Messenger
Breast cancer patients; Mammaglobin; Metastasis; RT-PCR