Blood Markers for Vasculogenesis Increase with Tumor Progression in Patients with Breast Carcinoma

Recent studies show that AC133-a hematopoietic stem cell antigen, when coex-pressed with endothelial markers, identifies a population of endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) in peripheral blood that function in tumor vasculogenesis in animals. Little is known about whether EPCs contribute to human tum...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer biology & therapy 2003-05, Vol.2 (3), p.255-256
Main Authors: Sussman, Louis K., Upalakalin, Jan Nalinee, Roberts, Mark J., Kocher, Olivier, Benjamin, Laura E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AC133 Antigen
Antigens, CD
Binding
Biology
Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics
Bioscience
Breast Neoplasms - blood supply
Calcium
Cancer
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - blood supply
Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - blood supply
Cell
Cycle
Disease Progression
DNA Primers - chemistry
Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism
Female
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Glycoproteins - genetics
Humans
Landes
Neoplasm Proteins - genetics
Neovascularization, Pathologic - blood
Organogenesis
Peptides - genetics
Proteins
Receptor, TIE-2 - genetics
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 - genetics
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Summary:Recent studies show that AC133-a hematopoietic stem cell antigen, when coex-pressed with endothelial markers, identifies a population of endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) in peripheral blood that function in tumor vasculogenesis in animals. Little is known about whether EPCs contribute to human tumor vasculogenesis. We attempted to determine if, through increased peripheral expression of AC133 or endothelial markers previously associated with EPCs,VEGFR-2 and Tie-2, we could detect an EPC response in the blood of patients with breast carcinoma. Thirty patients were segregated based on their breast biopsy histology into infiltrating carcinoma, DCIS and control groups. Using Real Time PCR, we measured the expression of the aforementioned markers in reverse transcribed RNA extracts from preoperative peripheral blood specimens. The cancer patients had significantly elevated Tie-2 expression with the highest levels associated with infiltrating carcinoma. Our data suggest increased circulating EPC markers in tumor patients, but further study of this cell population is needed to better define its role in tumor vasculogenesis.
ISSN:1538-4047
1555-8576
DOI:10.4161/cbt.2.3.363