Noninvasive
biomarkers are urgently needed for detecting
breast cancer as early as possible since the risk of recurrence, morbidity, and mortality is closely related to disease stage at the time of primary surgery. There are currently no such
biomarkers in clinical use as a diagnostic tool. Proteomic analysis of
protein expression patterns in body fluids has potential for use in identifying
biomarkers of
breast cancer. The aim of this study was to compare
protein expression levels in the sera of primary
breast cancer patients and healthy controls. An antibody microarray tool with 23
antibodies immobilized on
nitrocellulose slides was used to determine the levels of
acute phase proteins,
interleukins, and
complement factors in the sera of 101 study participants (49 women with primary
breast cancer and 52 healthy age-matched controls). Statistical analysis of reaction intensities identified 6
proteins that showed significantly (p < 0.05) different levels in
breast cancer patients vs. healthy subjects. The neural network distinguished
cancer patients from controls with a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 76%. Thus, antibody microarray analysis could be used as a tool for the development of improved diagnostics and
biomarker discovery for
breast cancer patients. Further validation of the results and de novo screening of new
biomarkers could facilitate the early diagnosis of
breast cancer.