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Black MH, Diamandis EP. The diagnostic and prognostic utility of prostate-specific antigen for diseases of the breast. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2000; 59:1-14. [PMID: 10752675 DOI: 10.1023/a:1006380306781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the most valuable tumor marker for the diagnosis and management of prostate carcinoma, it is widely accepted that PSA is not prostate specific. Numerous studies have shown that PSA is present in some female hormonally regulated tissues, principally the breast and its secretions. In this review, we summarize the findings of PSA in the breast, and focus on its potential for clinical applications in breast disease. PSA is produced by the majority of breast tumors and is a favorable indicator of prognosis in breast cancer. Low levels of PSA are released into the female circulation, and while the level of serum PSA is elevated in both benign and malignant breast disease, the molecular form of circulating PSA differs between women with and without breast cancer. These findings indicate that PSA may have potential diagnostic utility in breast cancer. PSA may also have a clinical application in benign breast disease, as both the level and molecular form of PSA differ between Type I and II breast cysts. High levels of PSA have been reported in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and recent studies have shown that the concentration of PSA in NAF is inversely related to breast cancer risk, indicating that NAF PSA may represent a clinical tool for breast cancer risk assessment. Thus, PSA represents a marker with numerous potential clinical applications as a diagnostic and/or prognostic tool in breast disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H Black
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Malatesta M, Mannello F, Luchetti F, Marcheggiani F, Condemi L, Papa S, Gazzanelli G. Prostate-specific antigen synthesis and secretion by human placenta: a physiological kallikrein source during pregnancy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000; 85:317-21. [PMID: 10634405 DOI: 10.1210/jcem.85.1.6302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a kallikrein-like serine protease until recently thought to be prostate specific, has been demonstrated in various nonprostatic tissues and body fluids. PSA has been also found in human endometrium and amniotic fluids, even if the significance of this novel expression is unclear. In this study, we have demonstrated by multiple techniques that human placental tissue, obtained at delivery from normal full-term pregnancies, synthesizes and secretes PSA. RT-PCR showed the presence of PSA messenger ribonucleic acid; biochemical, chromatographic, and immunological studies revealed the expression of both free and complexed PSA forms; immunoelectron microscopy indicated the syncytiotrophoblast as the site of PSA synthesis and secretion. Moreover, in vitro experiments demonstrated that PSA production and secretion are up-regulated by 17beta-estradiol, a pregnancy-related steroid hormone. These results suggest that human placenta is a source of the PSA present in amniotic fluid and maternal serum during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Malatesta
- Istituto di Istologia and Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze MFN, Università degli Studi di Urbino, Italy
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Malatesta M, Mannello F, Sebastiani M, Bianchi G, Gazzanelli G. Prostate-specific antigen found in type I breast cyst fluids is a secretory product of the apocrine cells lining breast gross cysts. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1999; 57:157-63. [PMID: 10598042 DOI: 10.1023/a:1006182518520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a serine protease thought to be exclusively produced by the prostate epithelial cells, has been recently found in human breast tissues and fluids. PSA in breast cancer is associated with the presence of steroid-hormones and receptors, and its presence seems to be a favourable prognostic indicator. In order to clarify whether the cells lining breast cysts may represent the source of PSA found in human breast cyst fluid, we performed an ultrastructural immunolocalization of PSA in the cells surrounding Type I breast cysts, obtained from breast cyst fluids of women affected by breast gross cystic disease, the most commonly occurring benign breast lesions associated with increased cancer risk. These apocrine cells show morphological features typical of actively synthesizing and secreting cells, and a PSA labelling distributed on free ribosomes, RER cisternae, and secretory granules, indicating that the metabolically active apocrine cells lining the Type I cysts are responsible for the production and secretion of PSA in Type I breast cyst fluids. The synthesis and intracystic accumulation of this serine protease in biosynthetically active apocrine Type I cysts can play an important role in the natural history of breast gross cystic disease as well as in the mechanism of cyst evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Malatesta
- Istituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Università degli Studi, Urbino, Italy
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5
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Mannello F, Malatesta M, Fusco E, Bianchi G, Cardinali A, Gazzanelli G. Biochemical Characterization and Immunolocalization of Prostate-specific Antigen in Human Term Placenta. Clin Chem 1998. [DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/44.8.1735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando Mannello
- Instituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali. Università Studi, Via Zeppi, 61029 Urbino (PS), Italy; Divisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy; Laboratorio Analisi, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy
| | - Manuela Malatesta
- Instituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali. Università Studi, Via Zeppi, 61029 Urbino (PS), Italy; Divisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy; Laboratorio Analisi, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy
| | - Eugenio Fusco
- Instituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali. Università Studi, Via Zeppi, 61029 Urbino (PS), Italy; Divisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy; Laboratorio Analisi, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bianchi
- Instituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali. Università Studi, Via Zeppi, 61029 Urbino (PS), Italy; Divisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy; Laboratorio Analisi, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy
| | - Antonella Cardinali
- Instituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali. Università Studi, Via Zeppi, 61029 Urbino (PS), Italy; Divisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy; Laboratorio Analisi, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Gazzanelli
- Instituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali. Università Studi, Via Zeppi, 61029 Urbino (PS), Italy; Divisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy; Laboratorio Analisi, AUSL 2, Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italy
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6
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Mannello F, Sebastiani M, Amati S, Gazzanelli G. Prostate-specific antigen expression in a case of intracystic carcinoma of the breast: characterization of immunoreactive protein and literature surveys. Clin Chem 1997. [DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/43.8.1448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
A case is presented of female breast intracystic carcinoma with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expressed in high amounts in aspirated cystic fluid (55 μg/L). Tumor extract analysis revealed the presence of both estrogen and progesterone receptors (0.38 and 1.87 nmol/L, respectively) and high quantities of PSA too (19.52 μg/L). Chromatographic analysis of cystic fluid revealed two peaks of PSA, at the expected positions for free and bound serine protease. A major proportion of 33-kDa free form was also confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Free PSA was heat-stable at 56 °C and displayed no change after freezing–thawing. These findings are discussed in the context of a detailed literature survey. Our data support the contention that PSA immunoreactivity in intracystic fluid of breast carcinoma is partly the result of secretory activity by the neoplastic cells and that the steroid receptors can also modulate its expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando Mannello
- Istituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze M.F.N., Università Studi, Via Zeppi, 61029 Urbino (PS), Italy
| | | | - Silvana Amati
- Istituto di Istologia ed Anatomia, Facoltà di Medicina, Università, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Gazzanelli
- Istituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze M.F.N., Università Studi, Via Zeppi, 61029 Urbino (PS), Italy
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7
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando Mannello
- Ist. Istol. & Anal. Lab., Facoltà Sci. MFN Università, Via E. Zeppi, 61029 Urbino, Italia; Div. Med. and Lab. Anal. Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italia
| | - Giovanni Miragoli
- Ist. Istol. & Anal. Lab., Facoltà Sci. MFN Università, Via E. Zeppi, 61029 Urbino, Italia; Div. Med. and Lab. Anal. Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italia
| | - Giuseppe Bianchi
- Ist. Istol. & Anal. Lab., Facoltà Sci. MFN Università, Via E. Zeppi, 61029 Urbino, Italia; Div. Med. and Lab. Anal. Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italia
| | - Giancarlo Gazzanelli
- Ist. Istol. & Anal. Lab., Facoltà Sci. MFN Università, Via E. Zeppi, 61029 Urbino, Italia; Div. Med. and Lab. Anal. Ospedale Civile, Urbino, Italia
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