Serum proteomic analysis of benign and malignant breast calcifications

Objective To find out serum protein difference between breast benign calcification and malignant calcification.Methods The serum samples of the patients with breast cancer and those with benign lesions were collected,10 samples in each category.They all had calcifications on mammygraphy.The mixed protein was assayed by using 2-DE method.The spots with marked different expression were excised from gels and digested into peptides.These peptides were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS and the peptide mass fingerprintings were got.One of special protein was valided by Western blotting.Results In group of breast cancer with calcification,there were 2 specific proteins.There were 15 differential expression proteins,including 8 up-regulated,and 7 down-regulated.Conclusion Some identified serum proteins have different expression in patients with malignamt or benign calcifications,which may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant calcifications. Key words: Breast carcinoma;  Calcification;  Protein