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Analysis of blood markers for early breast cancer diagnosis

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Abstract

Purpose

Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in women and has the highest associated mortality rate. Rapid detection programmes can provide early diagnosis and increase the chances of survival. There are no specific tumor biomarkers for the early phase of the disease. The primary aim of this study was to search a blood biomarker with levels that exceeded the normal range established in the general population that could be used to screen breast cancer.

Methods/patients

Case–control study. Conventional as well as research (NGAL, EGFR and 8-OHdG) tumor biomarkers were analyzed.

Results

A total of 126 women were enrolled (cases: 63 patients with local breast cancer; Controls: 63 healthy women). Significant differences were found in patients with higher levels of the conventional markers, Ca15.3, CEA, Cyfra 21.1 and NSE. However, when commercial cut-off values were used, only Ca 15.13 was significant. In the group of research biomarkers, significantly higher levels of EGFR were found in the control group, and of 8-OHdG in the case group. Using logistic regression analysis and a ROC curve, an equation composed of five markers, Ca 15.3, NSE, NGAL, EGFR and 8-OHdG, which yielded a correct diagnostic probability of breast cancer of 91.8% was obtained.

Conclusions

8-OHdG has been identified as a new potential marker for screening early stage breast cancer. In addition, a model that combines five blood markers that can be used as a diagnostic test in certain groups of patients has been developed. New studies with a larger sample size are needed to verify the results obtained.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oncology Service, Huelva Hospital Complex, Huelva, C/Ronda Norte, s/n, 21005, Huelva, Spain

    J. Bayo

  2. Clinical Analysis Service, Huelva Hospital Complex, Huelva, Spain

    M. A. Castaño

  3. Behavioural Science Methodology Area, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain

    F. Rivera

  4. Department of Integrated Sciences, Cell Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain

    F. Navarro

Authors
  1. J. Bayo
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  2. M. A. Castaño
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  3. F. Rivera
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  4. F. Navarro
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Bayo.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research involving human participants and/or animals

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Biomedical Research in Huelva (Spain). As previously indicated, all patients consent in writing to participate in the study. Annex (informed consent) includes both the information sheet and the informed consent completed by the participants. Researchers in the study kept confidentiality of the data of all the patients included in the study and ensured compliance with the law Organic Law 15/1999 on the Protection of Personal Data and any future regulation that legislates the confidentiality of the data. The information regarding the identity of the patients was considered to be confidential for all purposes. Data from the patients collected on the data collection sheet have been registered anonymously. Likewise, the database generated in the study, has been managed by the principal investigator of study and does contained personal identification data. During the course of this research, all documents related to the questionnaires have been located in a safe and locked area of the hospital.

Appendix: Informed consent

Appendix: Informed consent

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Bayo, J., Castaño, M.A., Rivera, F. et al. Analysis of blood markers for early breast cancer diagnosis. Clin Transl Oncol 20, 467–475 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-017-1731-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-017-1731-1

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