Expression of Mammaglobin and Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Breast Cancer Using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Negin Khosravi,Abdolreza Mohamadnia,Sharareh Seifi,Somayeh Sharifynia,Pegah Gharaeeyan,Adnan Khosravi,Arda Kiani,Atefeh Abedini,Naghmeh Bahrami

doi:10.4236/ojcd.2017.74011

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Breast cancer is among the most common causes of cancer related mortality in women worldwide. Early detection and prompt diagnosis of tumor is the first step to prevent cancer-related morbidity and mortality, and a comprehensive understanding of the involved molecular mechanisms can greatly help in this respect. Breast cancer, like many other types of cancer, is caused by a combination of genetic and epigenetic changes such as inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 40 breast cancer patients and 40 healthy controls. Quantitative real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real time qRT-PCR) was used to assess the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and mammaglobin mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients and healthy controls. The two groups were compared using t-test. Results: The two groups were not significantly different in terms of the mean age. Twenty-nine out of 40 cancer patients were positive for CEA mRNA and its sensitivity was calculated to be 72.5%. Twelve out of 40 healthy controls were positive for CEA mRNA. Twenty-six out of 40 patients were positive for mammaglobin mRNA indicative of 65% sensitivity while only five out of 40 healthy controls were positive for mammaglobin mRNA. Conclusion: Both CEA and mammaglobin mRNA had high sensitivity in cancer patients; thus, they can be used for screening and early detection of breast cancer patients. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm the current findings.

Highlights

Breast cancer is a common malignancy in women
Twenty-six out of 40 patients were positive for mammaglobin mRNA indicative of 65% sensitivity while only five out of 40 healthy controls were positive for mammaglobin mRNA
Breast cancer accounts for approximately 18% of all cancers in women with a much higher prevalence in western compared to eastern countries [1]

Summary

Introduction

Breast cancer is a common malignancy in women It is the first cause of cancerrelated mortality in women aged 40 to 55 years. It accounts for 18% of cancers in women and its prevalence in western countries is much higher than that in eastern countries [1]. Breast cancer is the result of unlimited growth and proliferation of epithelial cells lining the mammary ducts or lobules and may occur in various parts of the breast It may develop in different tissues such as the lactiferous ducts, lactating cells or the parenchyma. Similar to other epithelial malignancies, the incidence of breast cancer increases with age and almost three-fourths of the cases of breast cancer occur in women older than 50 years. Breast cancer is among the most common causes of cancer related mortality in women worldwide. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm the current findings

Methods

Results

Conclusion