Perspectivas en cáncer de mama: detección de células tumorales circulantes mediante mamaglobina A

P. CEBALLOS; S. GHERSEVICH

Clínica e Investigación en Ginecología y Obstetricia

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2008 vol. 35 p. 207 - 214

0210-573X

The main cause of mortality in breast carcinoma isthe development of metastases resulting from the invasionof tumor cells that travel by blood or lymphaticcirculation. To detect circulating tumor cells in patientswith breast cancer, diverse markers have beenused. The methods applied are mainly immunologicalor based on the detection of marker expression bymolecular biology techniques, such as polymerasechain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR.The protein known as mammaglobin A (MGA) ispart of the secretoglobin family. MGA expression ishighly specific to normal and neoplastic breast epitheliaand is used to detect circulating tumor cells in patientswith breast cancer by means of RT-PCR. MGAhas not been detected in peripheral blood samplesfrom healthy individuals. Several studies found nosignificant associations between MGA detection andthe presence of axillary lymph node metastases, tumorsize, histological grade and the presence of hormonereceptors in the tumor.MGA detection has been suggested to be an independentprognostic marker of the disease. Determinationof MGA in the blood of patients with breast carcinoma,mainly in those without evidence ofmetastasis, could indicate a prognosis of disease progressionand could contribute to the choice of treatmentto prevent tumoral recurrence.