Lactoferrin Expression in Human Breast Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): T. Campbell, R.A. Skilton, R.C. Coombes, S. Shousha, M.D. Graham, Y.A. Luqmani
Primary Institution: St George's Hospital Medical School
Hypothesis
Does lactoferrin expression correlate with breast cancer characteristics?
Conclusion
Lactoferrin is downregulated in some breast cancers and may indicate ineffective endocrine therapy.
Supporting Evidence
- Lactoferrin was highly expressed in lactating breast and normal resting tissue.
- Immunoreactive lactoferrin was found in 49% of ductal carcinoma in situ cases.
- Expression of lactoferrin was inversely related to estrogen receptor protein expression.
Takeaway
Lactoferrin is a protein found in breast tissue, and its presence might mean that some breast cancers won't respond well to certain treatments.
Methodology
The study involved screening a cDNA library from breast cancer tissue and analyzing lactoferrin expression in various breast tissues and tumors.
Limitations
The study did not find significant relationships with other clinical parameters and had a small sample size for some analyses.
Participant Demographics
The study included patients with invasive primary breast tumors and ductal carcinoma in situ.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0001
Statistical Significance
p=0.0001
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