Background: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum vitronectin and integrin alpha V beta 3 (αvβ3) levels with various clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer and to assess the diagnostic value of these markers alone or in combination with the conventional breast cancer biomarker CA15.3.
Methods: This study included 50 early diagnosed stage I - II primary breast cancer patients, 20 patients with fibroadenoma benign lesions, and 20 apparently normal healthy controls. Integrin αVβ3, vitronectin, and CA15.3 levels were measured using ELISA technique.
Results: Serum levels of integrin αVβ3 and vitronectin were significantly higher in the malignant group than those in the benign group and the control group with (p < 0.001). Significant positive correlation between integrin αvβ3 and vitronectin concentrations was found. Both markers showed significant statistically difference with lymph node, histological grade, tumor stage, and tumor size (p < 0.05). Integrin αvβ3 exhibited the highest sensitivity (70%) and specificity (68%), then vitronectin with 67% and 68%, respectively, followed by CA15.3 showing the least sensitivity and specificity (65% and 62%, respectively). All assessed parameters revealed comparable area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) 95% confidence interval (CI) range of 0.581 - 0.822.
Conclusions: Integrin αvβ3 is a promising biomarker alone or in combination with vitronectin and CA15.3 for diagnosis and prognosis of early stage breast cancer.