Biomedical Research

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of serum levels of Tartrate Resistant Acid Phosphatase 5b (TRACP5b), Carcino-Embryonic Antigen (CEA) and CA-153 in predicting the bone metastasis in patients diagnosed with lymph node-negative breast cancer.

Methods: Seventy-seven patients pathologically diagnosed with lymph node-negative breast cancer were recruited in the breast cancer group and 33 healthy counterparts in the control group. The serum level of TRACP5b was quantitatively measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The serum levels of CEA and CA-153 were detected by Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay (ECLIA) and statistically compared between two groups.

Results: In the breast cancer group, the serum levels of TRACP5b, CEA and CA-153 were (3.96 ± 0.87 U/L), (2.67 ± 1.82 ng/ml) and (18.32 ± 7.31 U/ml), significantly up-regulated compared with (2.07 ± 0.83 U/L), (1.36 ± 0.82 ng/ml) and (12.54 ± 7.53 U/ml), respectively (all P<0.05). The sensitivity of serum TRACP5b was 41.56%, significantly higher than 10.39% for CEA and 12.99% for CA-153 (both P<0.05), whereas the specificity of three biomarkers did not significantly differ (all P>0.05). No statistical significance was noted between CEA and CA-153 in terms of sensitivity and specificity (both P>0.05).

Conclusion: Compared with CEA and CA-153, serum TRACP5b yields a higher sensitivity. As one of the serum biomarkers, TRACP5b can be used for the diagnosis of bone metastasis in patients with lymph node-negative breast cancer.

Author(s): Jing Tang, Juan Liu, Yali Wang, Qingguo Li, Zhengrong Gao, Xiaoming Ma, Longzhou Chen
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