title: Transferrin-bound proteins as potential biomarkers for advanced breast cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum profiling using mass spectrometry-based proteomic techniques has great potential to detect biomarkers that might improve the management for advanced breast cancer patients. The albuminome has previously been investigated as a tool in biomarker discovery, however other high abundant blood proteins are also likely to sequester potentially interesting molecules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Affinity resin purified and isolated Transferrin and associated bound proteins from normal control and breast cancer patient serum samples were analysed by label-free mass spectrometry during the discovery phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  21 significant proteins were identified with Fibrinogen and Fibronectin selected for further analysis in an independent sample set, with significant difference found when comparing the controls groups (normal healthy control, inflammatory bowel disease and benign breast disease) to stage IV breast cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The area under the curve value for Fibrinogen compared favourably with cancer antigen 15-3, an established breast cancer tumour marker. A combination of all three biomarkers improved accuracy when comparing control/benign to stage IV breast cancer patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mass spectrometry profiling of Transferrin-bound proteins has revealed serum proteins that can distinguish between serum from advanced breast cancer patients and healthy control subjects with high confidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland ; National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dowling
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Oncology, IFOM-IEO-Campus, Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palmerini
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meleady
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland (MTCI), Dublin, Ireland ; St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ballot
authors.affiliation: Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland (MTCI), Dublin, Ireland ; St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gullo
authors.affiliation: Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland (MTCI), Dublin, Ireland ; St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crown
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moriarty
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clynes
keywords: Biomarkers; Breast cancer; Fibrinogen; Fibronectin; Mass spectrometry; Transferrin