Breast cancer proliferative activity: Is it the source of serum free DNA?

Available online 13 April 2013

Peer review under responsibility of Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine.

Figures & data

Figure 1 ROC curve analysis of serum DNA, TPS and CEA for prediction of breast cancer.

Table 1 Cut-off values and corresponding sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for serum DNA, TPS and CEA for prediction of breast cancer.

Biomarker	AUC (%)	p-Value	Cut-off values	Sensitivity (%)	Specificity (%)	PPV (%)	NPV (%)
TPS (U/L)	93.6	0.00^*	71	94.3	81.1	85	77.5
DNA (ng/μl)	92.9	0.00^*	65.7	77.1	97.3	98.5	72.2
CEA (ng/ml)	67.1	0.01^*	4.88	48.6	85.9	53.6	54.6

AUC: Area under the curve.

PPV: Positive predictive value.

NPP: Negative predictive value.

* Statistically significant at p < 0.05.

Figure 2 Kaplan–Meier disease-free survival curve for 100 breast cancer patients evaluated according to the levels of serum CEA at diagnosis.

Table 2 Correlation between preoperative serum DNA, TPS and CEA levels and disease-free survival (months) among breast cancer patients.

	Cut off values	Survival time (months)	95% Confidence interval		P-value
		Mean ± SE	Lower bound	Upper bound
DNA concentration (ng/μl)	⩽65.7 (Negative)	40.27 ± 2.94	34.51	46.03	P = 0.540
	>65.7 (Positive)	42.62 ± 1.25	40.16	45.07
TPS (U/L)	⩽71 (Negative)	40 ± 3.30	33.53	46.47	P = 0.602
	>70 (Positive)	42.56 ± 1.23	40.18	44.97
CEA (ng/ml)	<4.88 (Negative)	45.91 ± 1.25	43.45	48.36	P = 0.037^*
	⩾4.88 (Positive)	36.71 ± 3.53	29.80	43.63