Expression of Activin During and After Chemotherapy in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Primary Breast Cancer

Anticancer Res. 2016 May;36(5):2153-9.

Abstract

Background/aim: Activins are dimeric glycoproteins that play a significant role in reproduction and in endocrine-active tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential correlation between the concentration of activins (activin A, activin B, and activin AB) in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Patients and methods: The serum concentration of activins in 30 patients receiving chemotherapy within the German SUCCESS A study was analyzed using different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays at three time points: After primary surgery, but before chemotherapy; 4 weeks after the end of chemotherapy; and 2 years after chemotherapy during recurrence-free follow-up.

Results: The activin concentration decreased in all patients after chemotherapy. Premenopausal patients had significantly lower concentrations of activin AB during follow-up than postmenopausal women (p=0.037). Thirteen out of 16 premenopausal patients developed chemotherapy-related amenorrhea (CRA) but did not significantly differ in their activin concentrations compared to the other premenopausal women. A positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu status was associated with a significant reduction of activin AB concentration (p=0.02), and trastuzumab treatment correlated with significantly decreased activin A concentration (p=0.012).

Conclusion: Serial measurements of activin A concentration might be used for monitoring trastuzumab treatment. A sudden increase of activin concentration could be an early indicator of disease recurrence.

Keywords: Breast cancer; activin; chemotherapy; chemotherapy-related amenorrhea; inhibin; treatment monitoring.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / blood*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents