RT-PCR Assay Targeting Human Mammaglobin for the Detection of Occult Breast Cancer Cells in Hematopoietic Samples

The proposed research aims to establish human mammaglobin as a sensitive and specific molecular marker for the detection of occult breast cancer cells in hematopoietic samples using RT-PCR. It is expected that the nested RT-PCR assay will detect mammaglobin mRNA in breast cancer tissues and cell lines, confirming its sensitivity even at low levels of tumor cell contamination. Additionally, the assay is anticipated to demonstrate high specificity by showing no mammaglobin expression in hematopoietic samples from healthy individuals and patients with non-breast cancers. The study may reveal the incidence of mammaglobin mRNA in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and peripheral blood progenitor cell samples from breast cancer patients, particularly those with advanced or metastatic disease. This could provide valuable insights into the role of mammaglobin as a marker for minimal residual disease. Overall, the findings are expected to contribute to the development of a reliable molecular tool for detecting occult tumor cells in breast cancer patients, potentially improving prognostic assessment and guiding treatment decisions. This research may lay the groundwork for future studies on mammaglobin's clinical utility in monitoring disease progression and response to therapy.

• Supervision