Objective：To detect the expression of hMAM in sentinel lymph node (SLN) of breast cancer, and to evaluate the clinical significance.
Methods：The SLN of 32 patients with breast cancer was successfully detected with methylene blue, and both SLN and non-SLN were examined by hematoxylin and cosin staining(HE staining).Then SLN were examined by RT-PCR and Western Blot for the expression of  hMAM.
Results：Detection rate of SLN metastases was 18.75% by HE staining, 37.50%  for hMAM mRNA by applying RT-PCR and 28.13% for hMAM by applying Western Blot.There was a significant difference between RT-PCR or Western Blot methods and routine pathological examination (P＜0.05) for the detection rate of SLN metastases.
Conclusions：Utilization of RT-PCR instead of histopathological examination to detect the expression of hMAM mRNA in SLN can greatly enhance the accuracy diagnose rate of micrometastases of the SLN in breast cancer. hMAM mRNA may be potential tumor marker for detecting micrometastasis of SLN breast cancer.