ABS ePoster Library

Introduction: Human mammaglobin-A is breast tissue specific, over-expressed in some breast cancers and associated with less aggressive phenotypes. Several previous studies have determined the association between mammaglobin-A protein expression with tumour pathology however it is not known  whether expression correlates with survival.
Methods: Paraffin sections from 327 consecutive patients who had undergone breast surgery (benign (n=28) or breast cancer (n=299)) between October 2007-June 2010 were analysed for mammaglobin-A protein expression by immunohistochemistry. Tissue expression was compared with histological and clinical parameters; tumour grade, type, size and receptor status (where available; Chi-squared, p<0.05). Five year survival analysis was performed (Kaplan Meier, p<0.05). The study had ethics approval.
Results: Positive mammaglobin expression was observed in 49% breast samples analysed and expression with tumour grade was in 54% benign tissue samples, 57% grade 1, 52% grade 2 and 38% grade 3 tumour samples. There was a significant correlation between mammaglobin-A expression with both oestrogen and progesterone receptor status (p=0.011 and p=0.013 respectively). At five year follow up, 296 patients were alive and well, 14 were alive with cancer, 14 had died and 3 were lost to follow up. There were no significant associations between mammaglobin expression and overall or disease-free five year survival.
Conclusions: Mammaglobin-A expression in breast tissue was observed in a higher proportion of benign and low grade tumours, however this difference was not significant. Positive mammaglobin-A expression was associated with positive oestrogen and progesterone receptor status. There was no correlation between mammaglobin-A tissue expression and five year survival status.