Plasma Proteomic Profiling in Hereditary Breast Cancer Reveals a BRCA1-Specific Signature: Diagnostic and Functional Implications

PLoS One. 2015 Jun 10;10(6):e0129762. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129762. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of death among women. Among the major risk factors, an important role is played by familial history of BC. Germ-line mutations in BRCA1/2 genes account for most of the hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancers. Gene expression profiling studies have disclosed specific molecular signatures for BRCA1/2-related breast tumors as compared to sporadic cases, which might help diagnosis and clinical follow-up. Even though, a clear hallmark of BRCA1/2-positive BC is still lacking. Many diseases are correlated with quantitative changes of proteins in body fluids. Plasma potentially carries important information whose knowledge could help to improve early disease detection, prognosis, and response to therapeutic treatments. The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive approach finalized to improve the recovery of specific biomarkers from plasma samples of subjects affected by hereditary BC.

Methods: To perform this analysis, we used samples from patients belonging to highly homogeneous population previously reported. Depletion of high abundant plasma proteins, 2D gel analysis, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and bioinformatics analysis were used into an integrated approach to investigate tumor-specific changes in the plasma proteome of BC patients and healthy family members sharing the same BRCA1 gene founder mutation (5083del19), previously reported by our group, with the aim to identify specific signatures.

Results: The comparative analysis of the experimental results led to the identification of gelsolin as the most promising biomarker.

Conclusions: Further analyses, performed using a panel of breast cancer cell lines, allowed us to further elucidate the signaling network that might modulate the expression of gelsolin in breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics*
  • BRCA1 Protein / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / blood
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Proteome / genetics
  • Proteome / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*

Substances

  • BRCA1 Protein
  • BRCA1 protein, human
  • Proteome
  • RNA, Messenger

Grants and funding

For this work GC received funding from STAYWELL, grant number PON04a2_00003, and from PROMETEO, grant number PON01_02834. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.