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Detection of breast cancer from blood through analysis of lymphocyte fluorescent intensity using MUC1 antigen

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Abstract

Background

Sensitive and reliable early diagnostic markers for breast cancer (BC) are still unavailable today. In this work, we proposed a new complementary method for detection of BC. This method is based on an observation that lymphocytes re-exposed in vitro to antigenic stimulation express cytoplasmic changes.

Methods

In the new protocol, we recorded changes in the fluorescence intensity of light emitted from lymphocytes obtained from females with and without BC after stimulation with MUC1 antigen utilized flow cytometry.

Results

Out of 55 BC patients tested, 46 were correctly diagnosed. Of 73 controls, 55 were correctly identified as healthy subjects. The sensitivity of the test was 84 %; the specificity was 75 %.

Conclusion

These results suggest a potentially valuable method for detection of BC. The clinical importance of this procedure relies on the ability to screen populations for BC with widely available flow cytometry by a relatively fast, accurate, and economical procedure. Another potential benefit would be identification of candidates for vaccination as a primary or secondary preventive measure.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to all participants who donated blood for this research.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Department, Ziv Medical Center, Safed, Israel

    Ayelet Armon-Omer, Georgette Hilu, Bat-el Tayar, Tali Keren, Adi Sharabi-Nov & Ofer Klein

  2. Surgery Department, Ziv Medical Center, Safed, Israel

    Amram Hadary

  3. Surgery Department, Western Galilee Hospital, Nahariya, Israel

    Amitai Bickel

  4. Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, 14302, Safed, Israel

    Amram Hadary & Amitai Bickel

Authors
  1. Ayelet Armon-Omer
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  2. Amram Hadary
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  3. Georgette Hilu
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  4. Bat-el Tayar
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  5. Tali Keren
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  6. Adi Sharabi-Nov
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  7. Amitai Bickel
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  8. Ofer Klein
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ayelet Armon-Omer.

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Armon-Omer, A., Hadary, A., Hilu, G. et al. Detection of breast cancer from blood through analysis of lymphocyte fluorescent intensity using MUC1 antigen. Breast Cancer 22, 626–633 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-014-0529-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-014-0529-z

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