title: Plasma DNA integrity index as a potential molecular diagnostic marker for breast cancer.
abstract: Plasma DNA integrity index is increased in various malignancies including breast cancer, the most common cancer in women worldwide; early detection is crucial for successful treatment. Current screening methods fail to detect many cases of breast cancer at an early stage. In this study, we evaluated the level of plasma DNA integrity index in 260 females (95 with breast cancer, 95 with benign breast lesions, and 70 healthy controls) to verify its potential value in discriminating malignant from benign breast lesions. The criteria of the American Joint Committee on Cancer were used for staging of breast cancer patients. DNA integrity index was measured by real-time PCR. DNA integrity index was significantly higher in breast cancer than in benign breast patients and healthy subjects (P = <0.001). DNA integrity index is correlated with TNM stage. Given 100 % specificity, the highest sensitivity achieved in detecting cancer group was 85.3 % at 0.55 DNA integrity index cutoff. In conclusion, the plasma DNA integrity index may be a promising molecular diagnostic marker of malignancy in breast lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Fom El-Khalig Square, Kasr El-Aini Street, 11796, Cairo, Egypt. azzamkamel@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Azza M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Center, Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. steama911@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Salwa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teama
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Fom El-Khalig Square, Kasr El-Aini Street, 11796, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fawzy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tissue culture & Cytogenetic unit, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mervat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Deftar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; 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; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm
keywords: Breast cancer; DNA integrity index; Real time PCR