Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule/CD166 as a non-invasive biomarker in women with breast cancer

Abstract

Background

ALCAM, as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker, has the potential to revolutionize breast cancer screening by enabling early intervention and, ultimately, improving patient survival rates. This study investigated the ALCAM concentration and its diagnostic accuracy at the early stages of breast cancer (T1/T2, M0, N0).

Methodology

A total of 81 early stage breast cancer patients confirmed by histopathology and 81 healthy female volunteers whose breast ultrasound or mammogram were normal were included in the study. Blood, saliva, and urine samples were collected from all the included participants, centrifuged at 3000 RPM for 10 min, and the supernatant was stored at −80 °C until analyzed for ALCAM expression by using the Human ALCAM ELISA Kit.

Results

Receiver Operating Curves (ROC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the ALCAM biomarker in serum, saliva, and urine and were 0.947, 0.996, and 0.947, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off values of ALCAM expression in serum (87.7, 84, and ≥49.5), saliva (95.5, 96.3, and ≥52.5), and urine (88.89, 89.19, and ≥55) were interpreted.

Conclusion

ALCAM can be used to detect early breast cancers, showing better noninvasive diagnostic values. The study findings infer that ALCAM may represent a biomarker for breast cancer, which may have potential utility as a diagnostic tool as per the sensitivity and specificity values obtained.