Role of Pregnancy Specific Glycoproteins in Breast Cancer Development
Abstract
Pregnancy specific glycoproteins (PSGs) are secreted proteins of unknown function that belong to the carcinoembryonic antigen gene family (CEA). CEA is a commonly used tumor marker for adenocarcinomas. Expression of PSGs in normal breast tissue is undetectable by current techniques but they have been shown to be expressed in certain tumors including breast ductal and lobular carcinomas by immunohytochemistry. Because polyclonal anti-PSG antibodies can cross react with other members of the CEA family, we have examined the expression of PSGs by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with PSG-specific primers. Our results indicate that several breast cancer cell lines expressed mRNA encoding for PSGs and their splice variants. When breast tumors were examined, 24 out of 81 tumors expressed PSGs. We are currently looking at which particular PSGs are expressed in these tumors and will attempt to extract RNA from formalin-fixed breast tumors to extend our studies. We have produced one recombinant PSG containing the integrin binding motif, RGD, and one lacking the RGD tripeptide in insect cells. These proteins were produced as fusions with glutathione-S-transferase and have the predicted molecular mass. These proteins will be used to determine the possible effects of PSGs in the rate of proliferation of breast derived cells.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA334058
Entities
People
- Gabriela S. Dveksler
Organizations
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine