The clinical significance of serum C-erbB-2 protein in patients with breast cancer

Objective To study the extracellular level of P185,a soluble oncoprotein fragment of C-erbB-2,in breast cancer patients.Methods Serum samples from 42 patients with primary breast cancer,29 with benign breast diseases and 40 healthy controls,were assayed in an ELISA for P185.Results The serum level of P185 was higher in the cancer patients than in the patients with benign breast diseases and healthy controls [(22.67±12.61) mg/L vs.(8.34±5.70) mg/L and(5.79±4.47) mg/L respectively,P0.05].Let 15.8 mg/L be the cut-off value,the positive rate of P185 for breast cancer patients will be 45.2%.Conclusion Monitoring of serum C-erbB-2 level helps to appreciate the status of breast cancer before it is treated.