# BREAST CANCER PROGNOSIS WITH CELLULAR MARKERS

> **NIH NIH R01** · CANCER RESEARCH FUND OF CONTRA COSTA · 1992 · $268,874

## Abstract

Maturation of the breast epithelial mucin has strong correlation with
prognosis for infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast (IDC).  This
maturation mechanism, or its alterations, was studied with MoAbs in
immunohistochemistry of sections of paraffin-embedded blocks of the
patient's primary breast lesion.  Mutltivariate statistical analyses
using the Cox proportional-hazards model were performed, employing the
novel EGRET software program.  These analyses, indicated that strong
predictive correlations exist between immunohistochemical patterns
representing altered mucin maturation, and both relatively poor prognosis
of survival and short-relapse time.  An individualized risk factor
procedure for each patient was developed that merged immunohistochemical
findings and traditional prognostic variables.  These results support the
use of molecular maturation of breast epithelial antigens (BEAs) as valid
independent prognostic markers.  Since MoAbs were the probe used to
detect prognostic markers on BEAs and their point of interaction is
specific epitopes on them, then, strictly speaking, molecular maturation
implies also epitope maturation.

In this renewal application we will study the use of epitopic maturation
as our prognostic marker at 3 different levels:

1) At the epitope level, with recently created to BEAs that had modified
epitope structure.  These studies, coupled to our knowledge of epitopic
structure, will indicate the interactive contribution to MoAb binding of
both the amino acid component and carbohydrate moieties of the epitope.
Results could provide new, simple to use prognostic markers for
immunohistopathology analogous to those that we have already developed in
this grant.

ii) At the mRNA level, by analyzing the contribution of the core
polypeptides of BEAs to prognosis.  The content of mRNA for the breast
epithelial mucin, 70 and 46 kDa 'core polypeptides' will be assessed in
histological sections by in situ hybridization and its use as a
prognostic tool will be explored.  The in situ hybridization will be
performed with cDNA probes that we have developed.  Correlations with
prognosis will be evaluated in a retrospective study.

iii) At the oligosaccharide level, by investigating the contribution of
oligosaccharides that are known to undergo maturational and possibly
neoplasia-associated changes.  We will use different markers of
oligosaccharide synthesis available to include: cDNA probes for key
glycosyltransferases in in situ hybridization; Abs against enzymes
critical to oligosaccharide elongation (anti-mannosidase II); lectins
that will identify the degree of maturation of oligosaccharide structure
(L-PHA,ECA and H.pomatia); and MoAbs that identify unfinished O-linked
oligosaccharides (B72.3, 1E3 and 236.1R6). These maturational changes in
the oligosaccharides will be correlated to binding of specific
anti-mucin, anti-70 and anti-46 kDa MoAbs for which amino acid and
carbohydrate level of contribution are known.  Correlati...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179338
- **Project number:** 2R01CA039936-09
- **Recipient organization:** CANCER RESEARCH FUND OF CONTRA COSTA
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERTO L CERIANI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $268,874
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-09-15 → 1995-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179338

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179338, BREAST CANCER PROGNOSIS WITH CELLULAR MARKERS (2R01CA039936-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179338. Licensed CC0.

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