Gene expression of circulating tumour cells and its correlation with tumour stage in breast cancer patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast cancer (BC) represents one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths worldwide. New tools for diagnostic staging and therapeutic monitoring are needed to improve individualized therapies and improve clinical outcome. The analyses of circulating tumour cells may provide important prognostic information in the clinical setting.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>Circulating tumour cells (CTC) of 63 BC patients were isolated from peripheral blood (PB) through immunomagnetic separation. Subsequently, RT-PCR or mPCR for the genes <it>ga733.2</it>, <it>muc-1</it>, <it>c-erbB2</it>, <it>mgb-1</it>, <it>spdef </it>and <it>c-erbB2 </it>were performed. Subsequently, expression data were correlated with the tumour stages. Fourteen healthy individuals served as controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant correlations with tumour stages were found in single gene analyses of <it>ga733.2</it>, <it>muc-1 </it>and in multi-gene analyses of <it>ga733.2</it>/<it>muc-1</it>/<it>mgb1</it>/<it>spdef</it>. Furthermore, a significant correlation of <it>Ca 15-3 </it>and all studied genes was also observed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Herein, we demonstrated a positive correlation of a gene signature consisting of <it>ga733.2</it>, <it>muc-1</it>, <it>mgb1 </it>and <it>spdef </it>and advanced stages of BC. Moreover, all studied genes and gene patterns revealed a significant correlation with <it>Ca 15-3 </it>positive cases.</p

Do insulin-like growth factor associated proteins qualify as a tumor marker? results of a prospective study in 163 cancer patients*

Abstract Objective Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, -2 and Insulin like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) are involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells. It has never been evaluated, if the IGF-system can serve as a tumor marker in neoplasms. Methods In our prospective study 163 patients with colorectal cancer (22), prostate cancer (21), head and neck tumors (17), lymphomas (20), lung cancer (34) and other entities (49) were analysed for their IGF and IGFBP serum levels at the beginning and the end of radiotherapy and compared to 13 healthy people. Subgroups of patients with local tumor disease versus metastatic disease, primary and recurrent therapy and curative versus palliative therapy were compared. Results The serum levels of IGF-2 were significantly elevated in patients with prostate and colorectal cancer. However, sensitivity and specificity were only 70%. IGFBP-2 serum levels were elevated in patients with head and neck tumors. Again sensitivity and specificity were only 73%. A difference between local disease and metastatic disease could not be found. A difference between IGF serum levels before and after radiotherapy could not be detected. Conclusion The IGF-system cannot serve as a new tumor marker. The detected differences are very small, sensitivity and specificity are too low. IGF measurement is not useful for the evaluation of the success of radiotherapy in malignancies.</p