Clinical Chemistry Link to Randox Laboratories Web Site
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Clinical Chemistry 43: 1448-1454, 1997;
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an electronic Letter to
the Editor about this paper
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (12)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mannello, F.
Right arrow Articles by Gazzanelli, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mannello, F.
Right arrow Articles by Gazzanelli, G.
Related Collections
Right arrow Proteomics and Protein Markers
(Clinical Chemistry. 1997;43:1448-1454.)
© 1997 American Association for Clinical Chemistry, Inc.

Case Reports

Prostate-specific antigen expression in a case of intracystic carcinoma of the breast: characterization of immunoreactive protein and literature surveys

Ferdinando Mannello1,a, Maurizio Sebastiani2, Silvana Amati3 and Giancarlo Gazzanelli1

1 Istituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, Facoltà di Scienze M.F.N., Università Studi, Via Zeppi, 61029 Urbino (PS), Italy.

2 Centro di Senologia, AUSL 1, Pesaro, Italy.

3 Istituto di Istologia ed Anatomia, Facoltà di Medicina, Università, Ancona, Italy.
a Author for correspondence. Fax +39-722-322370;


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
Introduction
 Case History
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
A case is presented of female breast intracystic carcinoma with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expressed in high amounts in aspirated cystic fluid (55 µg/L). Tumor extract analysis revealed the presence of both estrogen and progesterone receptors (0.38 and 1.87 nmol/L, respectively) and high quantities of PSA too (19.52 µg/L). Chromatographic analysis of cystic fluid revealed two peaks of PSA, at the expected positions for free and bound serine protease. A major proportion of 33-kDa free form was also confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Free PSA was heat-stable at 56 °C and displayed no change after freezing–thawing. These findings are discussed in the context of a detailed literature survey. Our data support the contention that PSA immunoreactivity in intracystic fluid of breast carcinoma is partly the result of secretory activity by the neoplastic cells and that the steroid receptors can also modulate its expression.


Key Words: indexing terms: {alpha}1-antichymotrypsin • breast cyst fluid • fibrocystic disease • serine proteases • estrogen receptor • progesterone receptor


   Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
Case History
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Prostate-specific antigen(PSA)1 , first identified in 1970 (1), is a 33-kDa androgen-dependent glycoprotein, structurally and functionally related to the kallikrein family of serine proteases (2), with a chymotryptic-like and kallikrein-like enzymatic activity and substrate specificity (2)(3)(4). PSA has long been thought to be produced exclusively by the prostate epithelial cells but, recently, it has been found in female breast tumors, in normal breast, and in breast gross cysts (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). The physiological role of PSA production by the breast cells and its role, if any, in cancer initiation and progression are currently unknown and under investigation. PSA has been characterized in breast cancer cells and tissues as a hormone-regulated serine protease (6)(8)(12). Recently, several reports documented the immunoreactivity and expression of PSA serine protease in several biological fluids (9)(10)(11)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) and in human normal and tumoral tissues (5)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40). In blood, complexes form between PSA and serine protease inhibitors such as {alpha}1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) and {alpha}2-macroglobulin (3)(41). Apart from these complexes, free PSA is also present in serum, even though the increased concentration in female serum is a matter of debate (3)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50).

Intracystic breast tumor arising from the cyst wall, especially intracystic carcinoma, is a rare event in a typical clinical patient subset, its incidence ranging from 0.29% to 2% of all carcinomas of the breast (51). Intracystic carcinoma of the breast (ICB) is distinguished from cystic degeneration, which is caused by central necrosis of the tumor or carcinomatous invasion into benign microcystic diseases or gross cystic breast disease (52). ICB has a predilection for older women (mean age 67 years, compared with 54.5 years for all breast carcinomas), black women, and those with a long clinical history. ICB occurs as a large, grossly evident tumor confined to a solitary and cystically dilated duct with internal papillary projections (52). Aspiration of the breast mass yields a breast cyst fluid (BCF) containing many groups of cells and several biochemical markers (53)(54)(55). BCF, therefore, provides a unique opportunity to study the background of cystic changes related to the hormonal and biochemical environment, although diagnostic imaging techniques and cytological examination are the most widely used modalities for differential diagnosis (56)(57)(58). Despite the tumor's rarity and the difficulties encountered in papillary lesions of the breast, the cytological features of ICB have been well characterized (53)(56)(59).

Here, we report the results of the measurement and characterization of PSA immunoreactive protein and steroid hormone receptors status in a case of ICB. Our aim is to improve biochemical knowledge about the expression and hormone-responsiveness of the PSA protein found in needle-aspirated fluid from human breast intracystic cancer.


   Case History
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Case History
Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
In May 1996, a 69-year-old woman (nullipara) attended our Center with a 5-year history of a slowly enlarging right breast mass. The patient had noticed no complications. Physical examination revealed a 7 x 8 cm cystic right subareolar mass. Palpable adenopathy was not noted. Routine hematology and serum chemistry data were within the reference ranges for healthy persons. Mammography, ultrasonography, and xeropneumocystography demonstrated a large, well-circumscribed mass with papillary projections from the cyst wall (data not shown).

All the procedures followed in this work were carried out in accordance with the ethical standards of Helsinki Declaration of 1975 (as revised in 1983).


   Materials and Methods
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Case History
 Materials and Methods
Results
 Discussion
 References
 
materials
Sample collection and morphological features.
A percutaneous thin-needle aspiration rapidly filled the syringe (34 mL) with a murky brown fluid, indicating a mildly hemorrhagic cyst. After collection, BCF samples were centrifuged at 500g for 5 min to collect the cellular components, after which the supernates were centrifuged at 19 000g for 30 min at 4 °C. The final supernate was stored at -30 °C until processed.

Blood was also drawn from the woman and, after clotting, the sample was centrifuged at 300g for 10 min and the serum stored at -20 °C until assay.

Cytological analysis of the above-collected cellular components, performed after Papanicolaou's stain, showed papillary clusters of monomorphic epithelial cells with hyperchromatic nuclei, irregularly shaped nuclear contours, and cytoplasmic degenerative changes with minimal atypia (data not shown). Microscopic evaluation of a frozen section confirmed the presence of intracystic carcinoma, even though previous diagnostic imaging and cytological examination had not provided clear evidence for the diagnosis of malignancy.

The surgically resected tumor was well circumscribed and did not invade the adjacent soft tissues. Histological examination showed a large cystic ductal carcinoma surrounded by a fibrous thick wall without invasion into the cyst (data not shown).

Tumor cytosol extract.
The resected tumor specimen was placed on ice, transported to the laboratory, and processed within 1 h. Portions of breast tumor sample (0.5–1 g) were washed in isotonic saline solution, chopped with scissors, and then resuspended in 2 volumes of extraction/homogenizing buffer (0.01 mol/L Tris, 1.5 mmol/L EDTA, 5 mmol/L sodium molybdate, 10 g/L Nonidet NP-40 surfactant, 1 mmol/L phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, pH 7.4). The tissue sample was then homogenized by a small probe of a Labsonic Brown (Thomas Co., Philadelphia, PA) sonifier system for 5 cycles of 30 s at 40 W output on ice. The lysate was finally centrifuged at 15 000g at 4 °C for 25 min, and the supernate (the cytosolic fraction) was analyzed for biochemical determinations.

procedures
Protein measurement and steroid receptors analyses.
Total protein content was determined in triplicate with either the Coomassie G-250 or the bicinchoninic methods (with commercially available kits from Bio-Rad Labs, Munich, Germany, and Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, IL, respectively). The assays were calibrated with bovine gamma-globulin and serum albumin, respectively.

For quantitative analysis of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR), we used a commercially available enzyme immunoassay kit (Abbott Labs., Abbott Park, IL), performing according to the manufacturer's instructions.

PSA measurements.
PSA was determined in serum, BCF, and cytosolic extract with two commercially available kits, IMx® PSA (automated enzyme immunoassay from Abbott Labs.) and the CIS PSA-RIACTTM (radioimmunometric assay from CIS Bio International, Gif-sur-Yvette, France), described in detail previously (9)(17)(18). PSA immunoreactivity—determined for a minimum of three concentrations and at least in triplicate—was expressed as micrograms per liter.

Immunogram and electrophoretic separations.
Sample components were separated on a 600 x 9 mm column of Sephacryl S-300 (Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden) calibrated with protein molecular mass markers (hen egg white lysozyme, soybean trypsin inhibitor, bovine carbonic anhydrase, hen egg white ovalbumin, bovine serum albumin, and IgG). The samples (0.5 mL) were applied to the column and eluted with 0.05 mol/L Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.5, containing 0.15 mol/L NaCl, 7.7 mol/L NaN3, and 1 g/L bovine serum albumin. In all, ~80 fractions of 0.5 mL each were collected and analyzed for PSA content with both the IMx and CIS-RIACT kits.

All necessary reagents and equipment for sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting were purchased from Bio-Rad Labs. (Milan, Italy). Our protocols were followed throughout (60). Briefly, samples were electrophoresed under reducing conditions on 10% minislab gels, and separated proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. After saturation for 1 h at 37 °C in blocking solution (20 g/L nonfat dry milk in Tris-buffered saline, pH 7.5, containing 0.5 mL/L Tween 20), the strips were incubated for 6 h at room temperature with a 1:500 dilution (in blocking solution) of the primary anti-human PSA monoclonal mouse antibody (Dako, Milan, Italy). After several washes in buffer containing 0.5 mL/L Tween 20, the membranes were incubated for 2 h at room temperature with a 1:2000 dilution (in blocking solution) of an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (H+L) (Vector Labs., Burlingame, CA). The antibody binding was revealed by exposure to 100 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 9.5, containing MgCl2 4 mmol/L, nitroblue tetrazolium chloride 0.1 g/L, and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate 0.05 g/L, according to the procedures of the commercially available amplified alkaline phosphatase immune blot assay (Bio-Rad Labs.). Biotinylated molecular mass markers and PSA from LNCaP prostate cancer cell line tissue culture supernate were used as calibrators and positive control, respectively.

Stability studies.
Thermal inactivation of PSA was tested by incubating aliquots of BCF in a thermostable water bath, both for different lengths of time at 56 °C as well as at different temperatures (50, 65, 80, and 95 °C) for 30 min. We also studied the effects of repeated cycles of freeze–thawing on BCF aliquots stored in cryotubes at -30 °C, after which the samples were stored at -80 °C until testing; the PSA concentration was expressed as a percentage of residual activity vs controls kept at 4 °C in buffered-physiological saline solution, pH 7.4. Moreover, we tested the PSA stability in different buffer systems and at different pH values (measured at 25 °C); the buffer solutions were 100 mmol/L phosphate, 100 mmol/L HEPES, and 100 mmol/L Tris-HCl at pH 7.6, and 100 mmol/L borate–citrate–phosphate HCl at pH 4–12.

Statistical analyses.
All results, reported as the mean±SE value of at least five independent experiments, were determined with the StatView ver. 4 package (Abacus Concepts, Berkeley, CA) on a Macintosh Power PC (Apple, Cupertino, CA).


   Results
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Case History
 Materials and Methods
 Results
Discussion
 References
 
The serum sample was neither lipemic nor hemolytic, and electrophoretic and laboratory data were within relevant reference ranges. Serum PSA was 0.04 ± 0.01 µg/L. The murky brown BCF sample, characteristic of a hemorrhagic/lipemic cyst, showed a PSA content of 55 ± 1.62 µg/L. The linearity and interference studies revealed a good linear correlation between PSA concentration and dilution (y = -0.133 + 65.2x, r2 = 0.907, SDintercept = 0.08, SDslope = 3.79), demonstrating that BCF matrix (principally constituted of lipids, pigments, hormones, and proteins) did not affect the performance of PSA assays (Table 1 ). Analytical recoveries of purified seminal plasma PSA added to BCF and cytosolic tumor extract were 95.33% ± 1.76% and 94.66% ± 2.33%, respectively (Table 2 ). Assay reproducibility (CV), determined by assaying sample in replicates of three or four in at least five independent runs, was 3.25% within-run and 5.15% and between runs. Results of the PSA assays on the IMx (y) and the CIS-RIACT (x) agreed well, giving respective values of 55 ± 1.62 and 52 ± 0.97 µg/L (n = 20, y = 1.08x + 0.24, r2 = 0.93, SDintercept = 0.14, SDslope = 0.62). The concentration of PSA in tumor breast cytosolic extracts was determined to be 19.52 ± 4.4 µg/L. ER and PR concentrations in tumor cytosolic extracts were 0.38 and 1.87 nmol/L, respectively.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table 1. PSA dilution linearity for serum, BCF, and cytosolic tumor extract.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table 2. Analytical recovery of PSA added to BCF and cytosolic extract.

The PSA immunogram of Sephacryl S-300 column fractions 40–72 of BCF from the patient (Fig. 1 ) demonstrated immunoreactivity in the fractions where the ACT-PSA complex and free PSA are expected, without any additional peaks. The fraction of ACT-bound PSA (molecular mass 100 kDa) constituted ~15% of the major immunoreactive fractions, the remainder being free PSA (molecular mass ~33 kDa).



View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Figure 1. PSA immunogram of Sephacryl S-300 column fractions 40–72 of BCF sample, analyzed on IMx ({blacksquare}) and CIS-RIACT ({circ}).

The positions of the molecular mass markers are indicated at the top: hen egg white lysozyme (14.4 kDa), soybean trypsin inhibitor (21.5 kDa), bovine carbonic anhydrase (31 kDa), hen egg white ovalbumin (45 kDa), bovine serum albumin (66.2 kDa), and IgG (158 kDa).

We further characterized the presence of PSA in BCF as well as in tumor cytosolic extracts with Western blotting analysis. At the same position of the band present in culture supernate from LNCaP prostatic carcinoma cell line, a specific PSA immunoreactive protein at 33 kDa was observed (Fig. 2 ).



View larger version (95K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Figure 2. Western blot analysis with a monoclonal anti-PSA antibody and amplified alkaline phosphatase detection.

Lanes 1 and 4, LNCaP cell line supernate (4 ng); lane 2, BCF from ICB (5 ng); lane 3, breast tumor cytosolic extract (7 ng); lane 5, biotinylated molecular mass markers (rabbit muscle phosphorylase b, 97.4 kDa; rest as identified in Fig. 1Up ).

The three profiles of PSA stability in BCF (time-dependence at 56 °C, temperature-dependence after 30 min of preincubation, and pH optimum) are shown in Fig. 3 . Recovery of the PSA in the BCF sample, assayed after five freeze–thawing cycles, was 89–103% (mean 96%) and did not substantially affect either the immunoreactivity or the total PSA concentration measured; neither did the use of different buffer solutions at pH 7.6 (data not shown). The pH-dependent stability profile showed a drastically reduced immunoreactivity below pH 5 and over pH 10; optimum pH was determined to be 7.5. The thermal inactivation profile clearly showed a typical curve of thermolability, with residual immunoreactivity being reduced to ~34% after incubation for 30 min at 65 °C. After heating at 56 °C, the PSA immunoreactivity decreased ~50% by 30 min of preincubation and even more drastically within 4 h.



View larger version (16K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Figure 3. Stability profiles of PSA in BCF aspirated from ICB: (A) pH optimum; (B) time-dependent stability at 56 °C; (C) temperature-dependent inactivation.


   Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Case History
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
References
 
Until recently, PSA was thought to be a highly tissue-specific biochemical marker for prostate cells (1)(3), but recent biochemical and molecular evidence has shown that PSA is a widespread protein (4)(61). The physiological role of this serine protease in the breast cyst compartment is unknown at present (9)(10)(11), even though some have suggested that breast epithelium surrounding the apocrine "active" cysts is able to produce, secrete, and accumulate large amounts of PSA with a mechanism that could initiate events leading to proliferative breast disease (9).

Our findings in this case report clearly suggest that PSA in BCF from ICB is produced and (or) secreted from cells lining the cysts, as well as from the breast carcinoma tissues (5)(6)(23)(37). The high concentration of the PSA serine protease in BCF and in cytosolic tissue extract characterizes the tumor of the patient examined as a "highly PSA-positive tumor," according to a previous classification protocol (40).

Results of the cytological examination of the present ICB case widely agree with previous extensive, specific, and reviewed morphological studies (51)(53)(55)(56)(59).

The characteristic steroid hormone status of the patient examined (particularly the high proportion of PR) is probably correlated to high PSA expression in cytosolic tissue extract and BCF, largely in agreement with the previously reported association between PSA immunoreactivity in breast cancer and the presence of steroid hormone receptor (6)(8)(12)(40).

The biological functions of PSA remain unknown at present (4); however, our studies support the hypothesis that PSA does not act as an IGFBP-3/IGF-I regulator in breast cyst compartments (Mannello et al., submitted for publication). The functions of PSA in the female breast may thus converge with other proposed functions currently under investigation (4)(62).

Even though ICB is an unusual breast lesion, constituting 0.7% of all breast carcinomas, clinical studies and cytological evaluations illustrate the importance of knowledge of the characteristic clinical setting and natural history of the disease (51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67).

After an extensive bibliographic search, we can demonstrate that PSA is also a component of aspirated fluid an ICB. PSA concentration in needle-aspirated BCF was higher than that in serum but lower than the ICB cytosolic extract value, suggesting that the production or secretion (or both) of this serine protease is probably from the neoplastic cells surrounding the cyst. The very low proportion of ACT-bound PSA tends to favor this hypothesis and refutes the possibility of PSA accumulation in the breast cyst compartment from plasma through a transudative mechanism. This is partly confirmed in previous reports concerning the lack of PSA expression in sera of patients with breast cancer, even though this argument is a matter of recent debate (37)(41)(48)(49)(50).

According to reported studies with serum samples, different buffer systems (phosphate, HEPES, and Tris-HCl) at pH 7.6 did not substantially affect the stability of PSA in BCF or the real-time stability at -20 °C and the freeze–thawing cycles (68). Moreover, free PSA in BCF from ICB was heat-stable during 30 min of pretreatment at 56 °C, whereas PSA-ACT complex immunoreactivity was heat-sensitive, according to preliminary studies performed in serum samples (69). That the residual activity was ~50% after heat-treatment at 56 °C is in agreement with literature data, showing equal concentrations of free and ACT-bound PSA in breast cyst fluids (9)(10).

The concomitant expression of steroid receptors (in particular PR) and high PSA in ICB tumor extract suggests the possibility of PSA modulation by steroid hormones, as has been reported in breast carcinoma and other hormone-dependent tissues (6)(27)(30)(38)(62).

Although PSA values have previously been considered a new favorable prognostic indicator for women with breast cancer (70), other reports on PSA immunoreactivity in breast cancer patients suggest a more cautious evaluation of the utility of PSA (37)(71) and of the possibility for utilizing PSA as a marker for early identification of the hormone responsiveness of breast tumors (4)(50)(62).

In summary, the expression of PSA in nonprostatic sources, particularly in the female breast, suggests a new important biological role of this serine protease, certainly more complex than those reported previously, i.e., as a potential sensitive molecular marker of hormone responsiveness of the glandular cells (4)(41)(62)(72). It would therefore be interesting to study in detail the biochemical processes of PSA associated with breast cyst formation to provide an insight into the etiology of breast cancer evolution.

PSA immunoreactivity could also be important in basic studies as a biochemical marker of gene regulation by steroid hormone receptors and perhaps as indicative of increased cancer risk. Because PSA is not a single molecule of uniform features (3)(4)(62)(72), further studies will be conducted on its biochemical-molecular characteristics [i.e., microheterogeneity (from glycosylation), epitopes, inhibitors, and specific substrates] to provide knowledge of the mechanism of the appearance of this serine protease in the breast cyst compartment and of its biological role in the normal female breast, in breast cystic disease, and in breast cancer.


   Acknowledgments
 
This work was supported by a grant from the Assessorato alla Sanità of the Regione Marche, Italy. We thank G. Bianchi for excellent technical assistance and G. Miragoli for providing the clinical data.


   Footnotes
 
1 Nonstandard abbreviations: PSA, prostate-specific antigen; ACT, {alpha}1-antichymotrypsin; ICB, intracystic carcinoma of the breast; BCF, breast cyst fluid; ER, estrogen receptor; and PR, progesterone receptor.


   References
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Case History
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Ablin RJ, Soanes WA, Bronson P, Witebsky E. Precipitating antigens of the normal human prostate. J Reprod Fertil 1970;22:573-574. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  2. Watt KWK, Lee PJ, M'Timkulu T, Chan WP, Loor R. Human prostate-specific antigen: structural and functional similarity with serine proteases [Review]. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1986;83:3166-3170. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  3. Armbruster DA. Prostate-specific antigen: biochemistry, analytical methods and clinical application [Review]. Clin Chem 1993;39:181-195. [Abstract]
  4. Diamandis EP, Yu H. New biological functions of prostate-specific antigen [Editorial]. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1995;80:1515-1517. [Free Full Text]
  5. Diamandis EP, Yu H, Sutherland DJA. Detection of prostate-specific antigen immunoreactivity in breast tumors. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1994;32:301-310. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  6. Yu H, Diamandis EP, Sutherland DJA. Immunoreactive PSA levels in female and male breast tumors and its association with steroid hormone receptors and patient age. Clin Biochem 1994;27:75-79. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  7. Monne M, Croce CM, Yu H, Diamandis EP. Molecular characterisation of prostate-specific antigen m-RNA expressed in breast tumors. Cancer Res 1994;54:6344-6347. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  8. Yu H, Diamandis EP, Monne M, Croce CM. Oral contraceptive-induced expression of prostate-specific antigen in female breast. J Biol Chem 1995;270:6615-6618. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  9. Mannello F, Bocchiotti GD, Bianchi G, Marcheggiani F, Gazzanelli G. Quantification of prostate-specific antigen immunoreactivity in human breast cyst fluids. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1996;38:247-252. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  10. Diamandis EP, Yu H, Lopez-Otin C. Prostate-specific antigen: a new constituent of breast cyst fluid. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1996;38:259-264. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  11. Lai LC, Erbas H, Lennard TW, Peaston RT. Prostate-specific antigen in breast cyst fluid: possible role of prostate-specific antigen in hormone-dependent breast cancer. Int J Cancer 1996;66:743-746. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  12. Yu H, Diamandis EP, Zarghami N, Grass L. Induction of prostate-specific antigen production by steroids and tamoxifen in breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1994;32:291-300. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  13. Yu H, Diamandis EP. Prostate-specific antigen immunoreactivity in amniotic fluid. Clin Chem 1995;41:204-210. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Zhang WM, Leinonen J, Kalkkinen N, Dowell B, Stenman UH. Purification and characterization of different molecular forms of prostate-specific antigen in human seminal fluid. Clin Chem 1995;41:1567-1573. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Yu H, Diamandis EP. Prostate-specific antigen in milk of lactating women. Clin Chem 1995;41:54-58. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  16. Foretova L, Garber JE, Sadowsky NL, Verselis SJ, Li FP. Prostate-specific antigen in nipple aspirates [Letter]. Lancet 1996;347:1631.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  17. Mannello F, Bianchi G, Gazzanelli G. Immunoreactivity of prostate-specific antigen in plasma and saliva of healthy women [Tech Brief]. Clin Chem 1996;42:1110-1111. [Free Full Text]
  18. Mannello F, Miragoli G, Bianchi G, Gazzanelli G. Immunoreactive prostate-specific antigen in pleural effusions [Tech Brief]. Clin Chem 1997;43:847-848. [Free Full Text]
  19. Pollen JJ, Dreiling A. Immunohistochemical identification of PSA in female periurethral glands. Urology 1984;23:303-307. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  20. Tepper SL, Jagirdar J, Heath D, Geller SA. Homology between the female paraurethral (Skene's) glands and the prostate: immunohistochemical demonstration. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1984;108:423-425. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  21. Wilbur DC, Krenzer K, Bonfiglio TA. Prostate-specific antigen staining in carcinomas of non-prostatic origin [Abstract]. Am J Clin Pathol 1987;88:530.
  22. Nowels K, Kent E, Rinsho K. Prostate-specific antigen reactive cells in cystitis cystica and glandularis of bladder. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1988;112:734-738. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  23. Papotti M, Paties C, Peveri V, Moscuzza L, Bussolati G. Immunocytochemical detection of prostate-specific antigen in skin adnexal and breast tissues and tumors. Basic Appl Histochem 1989;33:25-29. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  24. Kamoshida S, Tsutsumi Y. Extraprostatic localization of prostate acid phosphatase and prostate-specific antigen: distribution in cloacogenic glandular epithelium and sex-dependent expression in human anal gland. Hum Pathol 1990;21:1108-1111. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  25. Grignon DL, Ro JY, Ayola AG, Johnson DE, Ordonez NG. Primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder. A clinicopathological analysis of 72 cases. Cancer 1991;67:2165-2172. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  26. Frazier HA, Humphrey PA, Burchette JL, Paulson DF. Immunoreactive prostate-specific antigen in male periurethral gland. J Urol 1992;147:246-248. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  27. McLachlin SM, Srigley JR. Prostatic tissue in mature cystic teratomas of the ovary. Am J Surg Pathol 1992;16:780-784. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  28. Van Krieken JH. Prostate marker immunoreactivity in salivary gland neoplasm. Am J Surg Pathol 1993;17:410-414. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  29. Zaviacic M, Sidlo J, Borovsky M. Prostate-specific antigen and prostate specific acid phosphatase in adenocarcinoma of Skene's paraurethral glands and ducts. Virchows Arch 1993;423:503-505.
  30. Clements A, Mukhtar A. Glandular kallikreins and prostate-specific antigen are expressed in the human endometrium. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994;78:1536-1539. [Abstract]
  31. Yu H, Diamandis EP, Levesque M, Sismondi MA, Zola P, Katsaros D. Ectopic production of prostate-specific antigen in breast tumor metastatic to the ovary. J Clin Anal Lab 1994;8:251-253.
  32. Buzzi A, Crescini C, Sonzogni A, Pezzica E. Prostatic tissue in a cystic teratoma of the ovary. Minerva Ginecol 1994;46:49-51. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  33. Sleater JP, Ford MJ, Beers BB. Extra-mammary Paget's disease associated with prostate carcinoma. Hum Pathol 1994;25:615-617. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  34. Elgamal A, van de Voorde L, van Poppel M. Immunohistochemical localization of prostate specific markers within the accessory sex glands of Cowper, Littre and Morgagni. Urology 1994;434:84-90.
  35. Kuopio T, Ekfors TO, Nikkanen V, Nevalainen TJ. Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas: report of three cases. APMIS 1995;103:69-78. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  36. Yu H, Diamandis EP, Levesque M, Sutherland DJA, Katsaros D. Expression of the prostate-specific antigen gene by a primary ovarian carcinoma. Cancer Res 1995;55:1603-1606. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  37. Wu JT, Zhang P, Astille ME, Wilson LW, Lyons WB, Wu LL. Prostate-specific antigen immunoreactivity detected in LNCaP cell medium, breast tumor cytosol and female serum. J Clin Anal Lab 1995;9:243-251.
  38. Levesque M, Hu H, D'Costa M, Diamandis EP. Prostate specific antigen expression by various tumors. J Clin Lab Anal 1995;9:123-128. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  39. Levesque M, Yu H, D'Costa M, Tadross L, Diamandis EP. Immunoreactive prostate-specific antigen in lung tumors. J Clin Anal Lab 1995;9:375-379.
  40. Zarghami N, Diamandis EP. Detection of prostate-specific antigen mRNA and protein in breast tumors. Clin Chem 1996;42:361-366. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  41. Diamandis EP, Yu H, Melegos DN. Ultrasensitive PSA assays and their clinical application [Opinion]. Clin Chem 1996;42:853-857. [Free Full Text]
  42. Freeman NJ, Doolittle C. Elevated prostate markers in metastatic small cell carcinoma of unknown primary. Cancer 1991;68:118-120. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  43. Simpson RHW, Clarke TJ, Sarsfield PTL, Babajews AV. Salivary duct adenocarcinoma. Histopathology 1991;18:229-235. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  44. Pummer K, Wirnsberger G, Purstner P, Stettner H, Wondschneider G. False positive prostate-specific antigen values in the sera of women with renal cell carcinoma. J Urol 1992;148:21-23. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  45. Dodson MK, Cliby WA, Keeney GL, Peterson MF, Podratz KC. Skene's gland adenocarcinoma with increased serum level of prostate-specific antigen. Ginecol Oncol 1994;55:304-307.
  46. Bilgrami S, Singh NT, Shafi N, Ciesielski T. Raised prostate-specific antigen in adenocarcinoma of lung [Letter]. Lancet 1994;344:1371-1372. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  47. Yu H, Diamandis EP. Measurement of serum PSA levels in females and in prostatectomized males with an ultrasensitive immunoassay technique. J Urol 1995;153:1004-1008. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  48. Giai M, Yu H, Roagna R, Ponzone R, Katsaros D, Levesque MA, et al. Prostate-specific antigen in serum of women with breast cancer. Br J Cancer 1995;72:728-731. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  49. James GK, Pudek M, Berean K, Diamandis EP, Archibald BL. Salivary duct carcinoma secreting prostate-specific antigen. Am J Clin Pathol 1996;106:242-247. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  50. Dibbelt L, Vierke G, Wünsche W. Prostate-specific antigen immunoactivity in women with breast cancer [Letter]. Clin Chem 1996;42:1721-1722. [Free Full Text]
  51. Page DL Anderson TJ eds. Diagnostic histopathology of the breast 1987:268-276 Churchill Livingstone New York. .
  52. Haagensen CD eds. Disease of the breast 1986:472-480 WB Saunders Philadelphia. .
  53. Squires JE, Betsill WL. Intracystic carcinoma of the breast. A correlation of cytomorphology, gross pathology, microscopic pathology and clinical data. Acta Cytol 1981;25:267-271. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  54. Matsuo S, Eto T, Soejima H, Ohara O, Hidaka O, Miyazaki J, et al. A case of intracystic carcinoma of the breast: the importance of measuring CEA in aspirated cystic fluid. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1993;28:41-44. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  55. Ravichandran D, Carty NJ, al-Talib RK, Rubin C, Royle GT, Taylor I. Cystic carcinoma of the breast: a trap for the unwary. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1995;77:123-126. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  56. Corkill ME, Sneige N, Fanning T, Naggar AE. Fine-needle aspiration cytology and flow cytometry of intracystic carcinoma of the breast. Am J Clin Pathol 1980;94:673-680.
  57. Carter D, Orr SL, Merino MJ. Intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast. After mastectomy, radiotherapy or excisional biopsy alone. Cancer 1983;52:14-19. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  58. Reuter K, D'Orsi CJ, Reale F. Intracystic carcinoma of the breast. The role of ultrasonography. Radiology 1984;153:233-234. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  59. Kyriazis AP, Kyriazis AA. Intracystic papillary carcinoma of the female breast with secretory activity: the significance of aspiration cytology as diagnostic procedure. Diagn Cytopathol 1995;13:322-324. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  60. Mannello F, Troccoli R. Improved electrophoretic map of breast cyst fluid proteins. Cancer Detect Prev 1992;16:107-112. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  61. Diamandis EP, Yu H. Prostate-specific antigen and lack of specificity for prostate cells [Letter]. Lancet 1995;345:1186.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  62. Graves HCB. Nonprostatic sources of prostate-specific antigen: a steroid-hormone dependent phenomenon? [Editorial]. Clin Chem 1995;41:7-9. [Free Full Text]
  63. Hart D. Intracystic papillomatous tumors of the breast, benign and malignant. Arch Surg 1927;14:793-835.
  64. Gatchell FB, Dockerty MD, Clagett OT. Intracystic carcinoma of the breast. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1958;106:347-352.
  65. Czeernobilsky B. Intracystic carcinoma of the female breast. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1967;124:93-98. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  66. McKittrick JE, Doane WA, Failing RM. Intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast. Am Surg 1969;35:195-202. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  67. Hunter CE, Sayers JL. Intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast. South Med J 1980;73:1484-1486. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  68. Petterson K, Piironen T, Seppälä M, Liukkonen L, Christensson A, Matikainen M-T, et al. Free and complexed prostate-specific antigen: in vitro stability, epitope map, and development of immunofluorometric assays for specific and sensitive detection of free PSA and PSA–{alpha}1-antichymotrypsin complex. Clin Chem 1995;41:1480-1488. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  69. Tsukada T, Arai T, Yokoyama M. Development of a simple method for measuring of free prostate-specific antigen in serum and preliminary clinical studies [Abstract]. Clin Chem 1995;41:S229-S230.
  70. Yu H, Giai M, Diamandis EP, Katsaros D, Sutherland DJA, Levesque MA, et al. Prostate-specific antigen is a new favorable prognostic indicator for women with breast cancer. Cancer Res 1995;55:2104-2110. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  71. Astill ME, Rapp E, Wilson LW, Bryson L, Wu JT. PSA in breast cytosol: a positive prognostic factor? [Abstract]. Clin Chem 1995;42:266.
  72. Diamandis EP. New diagnostic applications and physiological functions of prostate-specific antigen [Review]. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1995;Suppl 221:105-112.



The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:


Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. Malatesta, F. Mannello, F. Luchetti, F. Marcheggiani, L. Condemi, S. Papa, and G. Gazzanelli
Prostate-Specific Antigen Synthesis and Secretion by Human Placenta: A Physiological Kallikrein Source during Pregnancy
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2000; 85(1): 317 - 321.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
F. Mannello, M. Malatesta, M. Sebastiani, S. Battistelli, and G. Gazzanelli
Molecular Forms and Ultrastructural Localization of Prostate-specific Antigen in Nipple Aspirate Fluids,
Clin. Chem., December 1, 1999; 45(12): 2263 - 2266.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
F. Mannello, M. Malatesta, F. Luchetti, S. Papa, S. Battistelli, and G. Gazzanelli
Immunoreactivity, Ultrastructural Localization, and Transcript Expression of Prostate-specific Antigen in Human Neuroblastoma Cell Lines
Clin. Chem., January 1, 1999; 45(1): 78 - 84.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
F. Mannello, F. Luchetti, D. Lancioli, S. Battistelli, S. Papa, and G. Gazzanelli
Prostate-specific Antigen Expression in Neoplastic Human Myeloid Cell Lines
Clin. Chem., September 1, 1998; 44(9): 1991 - 1993.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
F. Mannello, M. Malatesta, E. Fusco, G. Bianchi, A. Cardinali, and G. Gazzanelli
Biochemical Characterization and Immunolocalization of Prostate-specific Antigen in Human Term Placenta
Clin. Chem., August 1, 1998; 44(8): 1735 - 1737.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
F. Mannello, F. Luchetti, E. Falcieri, S. Papa, and G. Gazzanelli
Prostate-specific Antigen Expression in Neuroblastoma Cell Lines
Clin. Chem., June 1, 1998; 44(6): 1362 - 1363.
[Full Text] [PDF]

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an electronic Letter to
the Editor about this paper
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (12)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mannello, F.
Right arrow Articles by Gazzanelli, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mannello, F.
Right arrow Articles by Gazzanelli, G.
Related Collections
Right arrow Proteomics and Protein Markers

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS