Detection of human mammaglobin mRNA in serial peripheral blood samples from patients with non-metastatic breast cancer is not predictive of disease recurrence
Abstract
Human mammaglobin (hMAM) mRNA is a sensitive and specific marker of breast cancer cells. We evaluated if hMAM mRNA detection in serial peripheral blood samples from non-metastatic breast cancer patients predicts for disease recurrence. Patients scheduled for adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy were eligible. Serial blood samples were collected up to 5 years, the first before (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. hMAM gene expression was analysed by RT-PCR. Specificity was evaluated in blood samples from healthy volunteers. A total of 321 patients were included. The incidence of pre-chemotherapy hMAM-positive samples was similar in patients who latter experienced cancer recurrence (22.4%) and those who remained disease-free (17.9%; P = 0.46). Similarly, the mean number of positive follow-up samples was similar in both groups (0.15 +/- 0.22 and 0.13 +/- 013; P = 0.29). Furthermore, there was no difference in disease-free (P = 0.63) or overall survival (P = 0.57) in patients with and without positive baseline samples or between patients whose follow-up samples were always hMAM negative and those with at least one positive sample. Multivariate survival analysis confirmed that hMAM mRNA detection before or after (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy wa...Continue Reading
References
Human mammaglobin RT-PCR assay for detection of occult breast cancer cells in hematopoietic products
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Carcinoma, Lobular
Lobular carcinoma is an invasive type of breast cancer in which lobules, areas of the breast that produce milk, undergo malignant transformation. Here is the latest research.
Carcinoma, Ductal
Ductal carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm involving the ductal systems of any of a number of organs, such as the mammary glands, pancreas, prostate or lacrimal gland. Discover the latest research on ductal carcinoma here.
Breast Cancer: Chemo-Resistance
Some cancers are difficult to treat and aggressive including the "triple-negative" breast cancer. This type of cancer is chemoresistant even before chemotherapy begins. Here are the latest discoveries chemo-resistance in breast cancer.