Evaluation of serum Amphiregulin levels in breast cancer patients and cancer-free controls

Abstract

Background: Expression of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor ligand, Amphiregulin, has been associated with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. As Amphiregulin is proteolytically released from the surface of breast cancer cells, we investigated the levels of Amphiregulin in the serum of breast cancer patients and cancer-free women to evaluate its potential utility as a breast cancer biomarker.Findings: Serum Amphiregulin levels were quantified by ELISA from 125 cancer-free women and 114 breast cancer patients. No significant association between serum Amphiregulin levels and breast cancer status was detected at two cut-points evaluated.Conclusions: Measurement of serum Amphiregulin levels lacks the necessary sensitivity and specificity for breast cancer screening in the general population. © 2013 Peterson et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.