Open AccessFree Circulating Tumor DNA as a Diagnostic Marker for Breast Cancer
Author(s) -
Hashad D.,
Sorour A.,
Ghazal A.,
Talaat I.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.21548
Subject(s) - breast cancer , medicine , immunohistochemistry , estrogen receptor , lymph node , oncology , cell free fetal dna , cancer , pathology , stage (stratigraphy) , estrogen , mammary gland , biology , pregnancy , paleontology , fetus , prenatal diagnosis , genetics
Background Cell‐free DNA (cf DNA ) in the plasma of patients with both malignant and benign breast lesions was analyzed to determine whether the findings may have diagnostic and prognostic implications and to analyze the association between the levels of cf DNA and prognostic parameters. Methods Plasma samples were obtained from 99 subjects; 42 with breast cancer (BC), 30 with benign breast lesions, and 27 healthy women as normal controls. Circulatory cf DNA was extracted from the plasma samples and quantified using a real‐time quantitative PCR method. Immunohistochemistry was done on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded sections to evaluate the status of hormonal receptors (estrogen receptor [ER] and progesterone receptor [PR]), and the protein expression of both Her2/neu and Topoisomerase IIα. Results The level of cf DNA in the BC group was significantly higher than in the benign lesions and control groups. cf DNA level was associated with malignant tumor size, lymph node involvement, stage, and grade as well as Her2/neu and Topoisomerase IIα expression, while it was not associated with ER or PR status. Conclusions The present study suggests that the level of cf DNA can be easily quantified using plasma samples. Thus, level of plasma cf DNA might constitute an important noninvasive diagnostic and prognostic valuable tool in cancer breast patients’ management.