Evaluation of the role of her-2/neu and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in breast cancer patients

The search for a simple, sensitive test to reliably determine prognosis and predict response to therapy in patients with cancer is an important area of translational research. The Her-2/neu oncogene and its receptor protein overexpression are indicators of more aggressive form of breast cancer. Her-2/neu overexpression was involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, migration and carcinogenesis. The main target of this study is to investigate the possible correlation between tissue Her-2/neu, serum Her-2/neu extracellular domain [ECD] and MMP-9. The impact of the assayed parameters on the disease free survival [DFS] in breast cancer patients will also investigated after one year of follow up. Serum was collected from 33 breast cancer patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Serum Her-2/neu ECD was detected by enzyme linked Immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and serum MMP-9 was detected by enzyme Immunoassay [EIA]. Patients were reevaluated after one year of follow up to detect disease relapse. Positive correlation between expression of Her-2/neu in the primary tumor tissue and the circulating serum Her-2/neu ECD was detected. Serum Her-2/neu ECD was more sensitive in predicting disease free survival than tissue Her-2/neu. Positive correlation between expression of Her-2/neu in the primary tumor and serum MMP-9 was also observed. In contrast, negative correlation between circulating serum Her-2/neu ECD and serum MMP-9 was detected in patients with tissue positive Her-2/neu. We also observed that MMP-9 was a good monitoring factor for the chemotherapy response. We concluded that serum Her-2/neu ECD might be a good prognostic parameter in addition to tissue Her-2/neu and MMP-9 might be the member of MMPs family that responsible for the shedding of the ECD of Her-2/neu receptor

Serum bone TRAP 5b and ICTP as prognostic markers in bone metastases from primary breast cancer

Bone is one of the earliest and most common sites for breast cancer metastasis. One-third of cancer patients will have metastases of their primary tumor to bone. The incidence ofbone metastases from primary breast cancer is approximately 13%. Bone marker measurements are noninvasive, inexpensive, and can be repeated often. Markers are derived from both cortical and trabecular bone and reflect the metabolic activity of the entire skeleton. The aim of this work was to determine serum level of Tartrate Resistant Acid Phosphatase 5b [TRAP 5b], Carboxy terminal telopeptide of type I collagen [ICTP] and CA15.3 pre-and post-operatively in patients with primary breast, cancer to asses their values as prognostic factors for the subsequent metastatic disease. Serum samples were collected from 41 females [31 patients with primary breast cancer and 10 normal healthy volunteers]. three samples were collected from patients before surgery, after 10 and 20 months from surgery. Serum TRAP 5b, ICTP a"dCA15,3 were detected by using EIA techniques. Preoperative serum ICTP concentrations >4.6ug/l [2+2SD]. were highly predictive for bone as site of metastases and higher risk of death by three times than those with preoperative serum ICTP concentrations <4.6 micro g/l While after 10 months from surgery. Bone TRAP 5b activity >5.4U/Lwas significantly correlated with poor prognosis for breast cancer and shorter 'wall survival. Serum ICTP concentrations in bone metastases sub. group, after 10 months from surgery [before reflect any Metastasis], were significantly increased from control group. Serum ICTP. TRAP'5b and CA15-3 levels were elevated in bone metastatic patients after 20 months from surgery [bone mciastases had been already diagnosed]. ICTP and TRAP 5b could be useful markers in predicting bone meiastases and might identify patients who would need uliiesorptive treatment in addition to chemotherapy.

Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1] and its binding protein 3 [IGFBP3] in relation to estrogen in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen with and without vitamin A

This study included 30 postmenopausal women with breast cancer stages II and III. They were divided into two groups according to the line of adjuvant treatment [tamoxifen, oral tables of 10 mg twice daily or tamoxifen with vitamin A, oral tables 200 mg daily of vitamin A] as well as 15 normal healthy postmenopausal women matched in age with the patients group. The study aimed to investigate the effect of an antioxidant [vitamin A] besides tamoxifen as an adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal females with breast cancer as a reflection of change on the serum levels of IGF-I, its binding protein 3 [IGFBP3] and estrogen which were determined by immunoradiometric assay [IRMA] and radioimmunoassay [RIA]. After six months of adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen or tamoxifen with vitamin A, a statistically significant decrease in serum IGF-I and estrogen and a statistically significant increase in serum IGFBP3 level were observed