Pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG)--a possible marker in breast cancer?

Serum levels of pregnancy-associated alpha-glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) and the estrogen receptor content (ER) in the tumor cytosol were measured in 174 women aged 24 to 94 years with primary breast cancer and the values were related to patient age, tumor size and clinical stage. While E2 levels were significantly lower and ER values significantly higher in older women, no significant correlation was found between alpha 2-PAG on one hand and the patients' age, E2 or ER values or tumor size on the other. A significant positive correlation (p = 0.016, Pearson correlation test) was found between alpha 2-PAG values and the clinical stage of the tumor. The results suggest the possible use of alpha 2-PAG as a marker for the monitoring of disseminated breast cancer during systemic therapy.