Blood tests can be used to determine which individuals have breast cancer versus those who don’t with 90% accuracy, and can help to detect cancer at an early stage. Serum concentrations of epidermal growth factor, soluble CD40-ligand and proapolipoprotein A1 are increased in breast cancer patients. High-molecular-weight-kininogen, apolipoprotein A1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, vitamin-D binding protein and vitronectin are decreased in breast cancer patients. A separate blood test which analyzes the number of circulating epithelial (tumour) cells can be used to monitor the effectiveness of chemotherapy, as these cells have been shown to react to therapy in the same way as the primary tumour. Peripherally circulating tumor cells are influenced by systemic chemotherapy. An increase (even after initial response to therapy) of 10-fold or more at the end of therapy is a strong predictor of relapse and acts as a marker for the aggressiveness of the tumor cells.
- The multiplex bead array approach to identifying serum biomarkers associated with breast cancer.
- Proteomics and bioinformatics approaches for identification of serum biomarkers to detect breast cancer.
- A novel approach toward development of a rapid blood test for breast cancer.
- Autoantibodies as potential biomarkers for breast cancer.
- Biomarkers in breast cancer
- Quantification of the response of circulating epithelial cells to neodadjuvant treatment for breast cancer: a new tool for therapy monitoring.
- Monitoring the response of circulating epithelial tumor cells to adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer allows detection of patients at risk of early relapse.
