Possible new biomarker for breast cancer identified | Oncology
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Communities Oncology Possible new biomarker for breast cancer identified

Possible new biomarker for breast cancer identified

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Activity of specific choline kinase transporters is two- to five-fold higher in breast cancer cells than noncancerous cells, which could lead to the development of a new diagnostic assay, Israeli investigators report. Activity of specific choline kinase transporters is two- to five-fold higher in breast cancer cells than noncancerous cells, which could lead to the development of a new diagnostic assay, Israeli investigators report in the April 15th issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

Dr. Galit Eliyahu and associates at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot measured phosphocholine accumulation and choline metabolism in human breast cancer cell-lines and normal human mammary epithelial cells.

They found upregulation of the expression of specific choline transporters, specifically, organic cation transporter-2, choline high affinity transporter-1 and choline kinase-alpha.

Levels of choline transporter like-1, organic cation transporter-1 and choline kinase-beta were similar in cancerous and noncancerous cells.

The Israeli researchers point out that "choline kinase plays an important role in malignant transformation of the breast" and they found that overall choline kinase activity was two- to five-fold higher in breast cancer cells than normal epithelial cells.

Upregulation of specific choline transporters "may serve as biomarker[s] of breast cancer malignant transformation," they write.

Int J Cancer 2007;120:1721-1730.
 

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