Dr. Amal Fawzy: assistant professor of clinical pathology -National Cancer Institute – Cairo University since 2012.One of the biggest oncology centers in the Middle East. More than 15 publications in the oncology field especially solid tumors (breast, ovaries and liver).
Abstract
Abstract:
Mamma-globin, also known as secreto-globin family 2A member 2 (SCGB2A2), is a member of the superfamily of secreto-globins. Its expression is highly specific for mammary tissue and has been shown to be overexpressed in breast tumor tissue, indicating that mamma-globin might confer a growth advantage to mamma-globin-expressing tumor cells. This study included 46 breast cancer patients, 20 patients diagnosed to have benign breast tumors, and 10 apparently healthy volunteering females as normal controls. Mamma-globin expression was detected in the peripheral blood of both patients and controls using real-time RT- PCR. Mamma-globin was detected in 26% of peripheral blood of breast cancer patients studied but not in any of the benign or healthy individuals. It showed statistically significant relations with the positivity of HER2neu expression, the presence of distant metastasis and with CEA (p- value =0.005, 0.013, and 0.001 respectively). On the other hand, it was statistically non- significant for age, grade, stage, ER or PR positivity, size of the tumor, and Lymph node involvement. It showed 26% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Our results suggest that mamma-globin is a specific molecular marker for detection of occult mammary carcinoma cells in the peripheral blood of patients with operable breast cancer. It might be of value as a predictor of subsequent metastasis.