Abstract
Background: Circulating cell-free (ccf) DNA is measurable in healthy individuals and in higher concentration in patients with benign and malignant breast disease (BD). Patients and Methods: In paired plasma and serum samples ccf DNA was extracted and quantified by real-time quantitative PCR for the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene. Results: The concentration of ccf DNA in serum was higher in patients with benign and malignant BD (p=0.023/p=0.001) compared to healthy controls, whereas ccf DNA in plasma was higher in patients with malignant BD compared to patients with benign BD or healthy controls (p=0.012/0.007). The ccf DNA correlated significantly between plasma and serum samples in patients with benign (p=0.01; R: 0.677) as well as malignant BD (p=0.01; R:0.713). Conclusion: The positive correlation between ccf DNA in plasma and serum in patients with benign as well as malignant BD, might have a diagnostic value for discriminating between malignant and benign BD.
- Received November 26, 2007.
- Revision received February 4, 2008.
- Accepted February 14, 2008.
- Copyright© 2008 International Institute of Anticaner Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved