Prognostic Significance of Inappropriate Production of Pregnancy Proteins by Breast Cancers

Tumour markers in breast cancer

“…Firstly, the screening of patients for metastatic disease either by serum measurements of markers or by radioisotopic techniques might be best limited to patients with marker-positive primary tumours. Secondly, the presence of a marker may be related to a biological characteristic of clinical significance such as lactalbumin and hormonal responsiveness and HCG and prognosis (Horne et al, 1976). Thirdly, the synthesis of tumour products by tumours grown in cell or tissue culture or transplanted into "nude" (immunosuppressed) mice is important in research into tumour differentiation and proliferation, and may be of clinical value if such methods are used to test tumour sensitivity to therapeutic regimes.…”

Maternal–fetal conflict, genomic imprinting and mammalian vulnerabilities to cancer

“…Shared features include rapid proliferation, invasion of neighbouring tissues, deportation to distant sites, vasculogenic mimicry, induction of angiogenesis and modulation of immune responses [18 -21]. Trophoblast and malignant cells both use aerobic glycolysis [22,23] and many cancers express 'trophoblast-specific' genes [24][25][26][27]. The b-subunit of chorionic gonadotropin (CGb) is a quintessential product of trophoblast that is expressed by many trophoblastic and non-trophoblastic tumours [14,28] and has been considered a 'definitive cancer biomarker' [16].…”

Serum levels of human placental lactogen and pregnancy-specific β1-glycoprotein in breast cancer

“…Their "ectopic" secretion by breast tumours has been claimed. hPL has been found in the sera of breast-cancer patients (Gaspard et al, 1973;Sheth et al, 1977) and in breast-carcinoma tissue (Horne et al, 1976) while SP1 has been detected in sera (Searle et al, 1978;Wiirz, 1979;Grudzinskas et al, 1980;Bremner et al, 1981), breast-tumour tissue (Horne et al, 1976;Wurz, 1979;Inaba et al, 1980;Bremner et al, 1981) and in the culture medium in which a breast-cancer cell line has been grown (Horne et al, 1979). Perhaps the most potentially important study has been that of Horne et al (1976) 24 h, after which the anti-rabbit-yglobulin was added and the tubes were incubated for a fuirther 24 h. The sensitivity limit of the assay was 0-2 pug/l.…”

“…The demonstration of placental protein in breast tumours by Horne et al (1976) appeared to be of importance. Our study, however, has failed to detect raised levels in the blood of breast cancer patients.…”