Background: In breast cancer (BC), metastases to the central nervous system usually arise in women with advanced disease. Diagnosis of leptomeningeal (LM) metastasis is based on neurological symptoms, imaging studies and cytological detection of malignant cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, often these approaches are not sensitive enough to recognize leptomeninges involvement and subsequently to make a diagnosis of LM carcinomatosis. This study investigated the employment of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the human mammaglobin (hMAM) gene in a case of BC with cerebral metastases in which the involvement of the leptomeninges was in doubt.
Materials and methods: Amplification of hMAM mRNA was performed from CSF cells by RT-PCR.
Results: No amplification of hMAM was obtained from the CSF cells.
Conclusion: RT-PCR for human mammaglobin mRNA of the CSF in BC patients with brain metastases may aid clinical determination of LM involvement and consequently the choice of the most effective therapy regimens for affected patients.