Clinical Significance Of Expression Of Osteopontin In Tissue And Serum In Breast Cancer

Objective: To investigated the relationship between OPN expression and clinicopathologic characteristics through examination of the expression of osteopontin in mRNA and protein level and perioperative serum concentration in breast cancer patients,.and evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of OPN as a new tumor marker.Methods: The mRNA level and protein level expression of OPN were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and SP immunohistochemistry method respectively in 55 breast cancers and 40 benign breast tumor specimens.Meanwhile,the serum concentration of OPN was measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay(ELISA) in the 55 breast cancers and 40 benign breast tumors and 32 healthy controls.To investigate the differences and the relationship between the OPN expression and clinicopathologic characteristics. Results:(1)By RT-PCR methods ,the OPN mRNA expression was 0.5947±0.2772 and 0.2513±0.1389 in breast cancer tissues and benign breast tumors respectively,which showed a statistic significance(t=7.922 , P<0.01).The OPN mRNA showed a higher level in patients with higher clinical phase,larger tumor diameter and higher axillary lymphy nodes metastases(P <0.05),but it was negative correlated to location of tumor and ER or PR expression(P >0.05).(2)OPN protein positive expression rate was higher in breast cancer(78.18%) than in benign breast tumor specimens(17.50%)(x2=34.20 , P < 0.01 ) .The expression of OPN was positively correlated with clinical phase,larger tumor diameter and axillary lymphy nodes metastases(P <0.05),but it was negative correlated to location of tumor and ER or PR expression(P >0.05). (3)By ELISA methods , the OPN serum concentration in patients with breast cancer(165.51±101.50ng/ml) was significantly higher than benign tumor controls(33.96±15.95ng/ml) and normal controls(27.91±12.32ng/ml) and breast cancer after surgery(91.95±53.91 ng/ml)(P <0.05).In breast cancer patients the OPN value before operation was higher in those higher clinical phase,larger tumor diameter and higher axillary lymphy nodes metastases(P <0.05).The OPN value in benign tumor controls showed no significant difference with normal controls(P >0.05).(4)The sensitivity and specificity of OPN as a new tumor marker for breast cancer was 76.36% and 93.75%respectively.Conclusion:1,In breast cancer patients,OPN highly expressed in mRNA level and protein level ,it was significantly associated with the clinical phase,tumor diameter and axillary lymphy nodes metastases.2,The OPN serum concentration was higher in patients with breast cancer,it was significantly associated with the clinical phase,tumor diameter and axillary lymphy nodes metastases. The OPN serum value after surgery was significantly lower than preoperative3,In breast cancer patients, OPN can reflect the tumor burden ,OPN may be a addition for histopathology detection and a new evidence for early diagnose,recur monitoring and combined therapy , OPN may be a tumor marker for breast cancer with good sensitivity and specificity.