bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum Levels of C-Myc and C-Ras Oncogene Products in Normal Subjects and in Patients with Neoplastic and Non Neoplastic Conditions
Authors: Dhokia Babu , Pectasides Dimitris , Epenetos Agamemnon A. , Sikora Karol , Habib Nagib A. , Hershman Michael , Wood Chris B.
Published: April 2018

A new, simple and sensitive low pH ELISA system has been developed and used to measure serum levels of c-myc and c-ras oncogene products in healthy blood donors and patients with neoplastic and non neoplastic conditions. Blood donors had significantly lower serum levels of oncogene products than patients with cancer or other pathologies (p-value < 0.01). There was, however, no difference between patients with neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions.

Although c-myc and c-ras oncogene products in the serum appear to discriminate between healthy state and pathological conditions they do not discriminate between neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen, Ferritin, Tissue Polypeptide Antigen, and Ca15/3 in Breast Cancer: Relationship between Carcinoma and Normal Breast Tissue
Authors: Gion Massimo , Mione Riccardo , Dittadi Ruggero , Griggio Luciano , Munegato Gabriele , Valsecchi Marco , Del Maschio Orfeo , Bruscagnin Giuliano
Published: April 2018

The study of tumor markers in breast cancer tissue may supply information on the tumor's biological features and its clinical behaviour. Forty-nine primary breast cancer patients are evaluable to date. CEA, ferritin, TPA and CA15/3 were measured with radioimmu-nometric methods in the cytosol of carcinoma and normal tissue from the same breast. The concentrations of the four markers were higher in the tumor than in normal tissue in 42/49 cases for CEA, 47/49 for ferritin, 42/49 for TPA and in 24/29 for CA15/3. However, an overlap was found between carcinoma and normal tissue levels, particularly for CEA and TPA. We can conclude that the four substances studied may be markers of malignancy in breast carcinoma when nonmalignant breast tissue from the same patient is determined at the same time, whereas assays within a single, unknown breast tissue sample may be useful only in the case of ferritin and, partly, CA15/3.
Radioimmunodetection of Melanoma: Preliminary Results of a Prospective Study
Authors: Buraggi Gianluigi , Turrin Alberto , Cascinelli Natale , Attili Angelo , Gasparini Massimo , Callegaro Lanfranco , Ferrone Soldano , Seregni Ettore , Bombardieri Emilio , Belli Filiberto
Published: April 2018

A prospective study to evaluate the clinical usefulness of radioimmunodetection of melanoma in clinical practice is ongoing at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy. Technical conditions for the application of the method were previously reported. In this trial, 99mTc-labelled F(ab’) 2 fragments of the 225.28S monoclonal antibody were used against a high molecular weight melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA).

Retrospective studies on radioimmunodetection of melanoma have already been made by our group and by other Centers in about 300 patients.

This study concerns the evaluation of the regional extension of primary melanoma. 23 patients with 32 suspected lymphatic involvements of melanoma on the trunk and arms underwent immunoscintigraphy. No false positive results were observed; 3 false negatives, one corresponding to a micrometastasis, were noticed. Specificity corresponds to 100% and sensitivity to 78.6%.
Differences in Polyamine Metabolism between Carcinomatous and Uninvolved Human Breast Tissues
Authors: Romano Marta , Santacroce Maria Assunta , Bonelli Patrizia , Cecco Luigi , Cerra Maria
Published: April 2018

The polyamine biosynthetic enzymes ODC and SAMDC show higher activity in carcinomatous human breast tissue than in uninvolved tissue of the same breast; the interconversion enzyme PAO shows significantly lower activity in carcinomatous than uninvolved tissue.

The polyamine metabolism in carcinomatous human breast tissue thus appears to differ from that in uninvolved tissue. Intracellular polyamine concentrations, particularly spermine, are high in carcinomatous tissue.

This increase and that of the biosynthetic enzymes suggest that a higher polyamine concentration is needed for carcinomatous cell growth. If this is the case, the lower PAO activity in carcinomatous tissue may be explained as a mechanism that conserves the high intracellular polyamine concentration.
Circulating Neuron-Specific Enolase in Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Pacini Furio , Elisei Rossella , Anelli Stefano , Gasperini Lucia , Schipani Ernestina , Pinchera Aldo
Published: April 2018

The utility of determining circulating neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in medullary thyroid carcinoma was assessed in 25 patients followed up for a mean period of 45.6 months. In 5 patients tested before any treatment serum NSE concentrations were in the normal range. After total thyroidectomy abnormally high serum NSE concentrations (more than 9.8 ng/ml) were found in 1/3 patients with normal calcitonin (CT) in remission, in 2/10 with elevated CT levels but no evidence of disease and in 9/12 with elevated CT levels and documented metastases. The mean (± SD) NSE value in this last group was 12.0 ± 12.6 ng/ml, significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.005). The time course of serum NSE in patients with long follow-up seems to indicate that serum NSE rises when a large tumor mass is present and usually parallels the pattern of circulating CT. Effective treatment of the metastases is usually followed by reduction of serum NSE. Thus, serum NSE can serve as an additional humoral marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma, its elevation being associated with important metastatic involvement and with a poor prognosis of the tumor.
Detection of a Soluble form of the Receptor for Interleukin 2 in the Serum of Patients with Hairy Cell Leukaemia
Authors: Chilosi Marco , Pizzolo Giovanni , Semenzato Gianpietro , Cetto Gian Luigi
Published: April 2018

The sera of patients with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) contain a factor which inhibits the binding of anti-IL-2R antibody to its target (activated T lymphocytes). The presence of this factor, which probably corresponds to the soluble form of IL-2R (sIL-2R), can be easily detected using a simple immunocytochemical inhibition assay. In a series of patients with chronic lymphoproliferative diseases the presence of sIL-2R appeared to be specific for HCL, using the sensitivity of our test, since it could not be detected in sera from normal subjects and patients with B-cell lymphocytic leukaemia or Hodgkin's disease. Thus it might be used as an additional tool for characterizing HCL patients.
Correlating Labeling Chemistry and in-vitro Test Results with the Biological Behavior of Radiolabeled Proteins
Authors: Srivastava Suresh C. , Meinken George E.
Published: April 2018

A study of the effect of various rediochemical labeling parameters on the in-vivo behavior of proteins, in particular of monoclonal antibodies, was carried out. Both radioiodination, and radiometal labeling (using protein-chelating agent conjugates), of antimelanoma, antiplatelet, and anticolon carcinoma monoclonal antibodies (222.28s, 7E3, and GA-733 respectively), as well as the direct labeling of human serum albumin with 99m Tc, were investigated. Different aspects of the biological behavior are affected in relation to the labeling chemistry involved. These include the immunoreactivity, blood clearance and tissue uptake kinetics, and rates and routes of excretion. Individual radionuclide effects have often to be addressed separately. Some antibodies are more susceptable to alteration from labeling conditions than others. Careful optimization of labeling and purification procedures is thus necessary for particular radionuclide/antibody combinations in order to obtain predictable and reproducible in-vivo results for both immunoscintigraphy and immunotherapy applications.
Ca-125 Monitoring during Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Martoni Andrea , Bellucco Antonia , Marabini Alberto , Orlandi Camillo , Platé Livia , Bianchi Davide , Pannuti Franco
Published: April 2018

Serum CA-125 was determind in 60 patients with variously extended ovarian cancer and monitored during and after chemotherapy. The study indicates that: 1) prechemotherapy CA-125 shows the presence of an active disease with an accuracy > 85%. The antigen is elevated in 97% of patients with > 2 cm disease, but sensitivity is low (67%) in patients with minimal residual disease (< 2 cm); 2) changes in CA-125 correspond well with the response to chemotherapy. CA-125 becomes negative in every patient having clinical CR and increases in every patient with progressive disease. These changes can indicate the type of response some months ahead of time; 3) CA-125 indicates in advance the recurrence of the disease after an objective remission: 4) In the conditions studied CA-125 basal levels do not seem to have prognostic value as regarding either response or survival.
The Joint Task Group on Clinical Utility of Labelled Antibodies of the Society of Nuclear Medicine Europa (Snme) and the European Nuclear Medicine Society (Enms)
Authors: Buraggi Gianluigi , Britton K.E. , Büll U. , Emrich D. , Fueger G. , Winkler C.G. , Bishop-Delaloye A. , Chatal J.F. , Dienstbier Z. , Ell P.J. , Granowska M. , Pauwels E.
Published: April 2018

In September 1985 a task group on the clinical utility of labelled antibodies was founded by the Society of Nuclear Medicine - Europe.

This document was elaborated to report the aims and the programs of the group. In September 1986 the European Nuclear Medicine Society decided to partecipate in this initiative and a joint task group was created.

Initial Document

A. The aims ot the Task Group are to monitor, co-ordinate and promote research and clinical application of techniques using radiolabeled antibodies in nuclear medicine. A.1. The Group should develop into a major point of reference, giving scientific and technical support to each member of the Society involved in this field. B. To pursue these purposes it will be necessary to develop the following: B.1. Criteria to evaluate the suitability of antigen-antibody systems for tumour detection and/or therapy. B. 2. Criteria for quality control of radioimmunoreagents. B. 3. Criteria for the prevention of adverse reactions or damage due to the reagent. B. 4. Selection of suitable dosimetric methods for diagnostic or therapeutic applications. B. 5. Elaboration of protocols for clinical experiments, including appropriate techniques to be applied in single cases. B. 6. Organization of cooperative studies. C. The Task Group should promote: C.1. Informal meetings between the members of the Group. C.2. Workshops open to the members of the Society and other researchers. C.3. Publication of reports in appropriate journals.
Serum Levels of Carcinoembryonic Antigen, Gastrointestinal Cancer-Associated Antigen and Alphafetoprotein in Staging and Management of Patients with Advanced Carcinoma of the Stomach
Authors: Szymendera Janusz J. , Szawlowski Andrzej W. , Nowacki Marek P. , Kowalska Malgorzata , Kaminska Janina A. , Kozlowicz-Gudzinska Izabella
Published: April 2018

Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), gastrointestinal cancer-associated antigen (GICA or CA 19-9), and alphafetoprotein (AFP) were concurrently determined in patients with carcinoma of the stomach: in 84 preoperatively, and in 67 serially postoperatively. Before surgery, serum CEA gave information about the tumor load analogous to serum GICA in 69% of the patients: true-positive in 25% and false-negative in 43%; less information in 18% and more in 14%. The sensitivity of the test tended to be better in the more advanced stages, and was higher for CEA with GICA than for CEA alone or GICA alone. During follow-up, serum CEA gave information about the presence or absence of active disease analogous to serum GIC A in 78% of the patients: true-positive in 30%, true-negative in 36% and false-negative in 12%; less information in 9% and more in 13%. Neither test gave any false-positive indications. Sensitivity of the test rose from 67% for CEA alone and 60% for GICA alone to 81% for CEA with GICA. Serum AFP was elevated only preoperatively in 2% of patients. We conclude that joint application of CEA and GICA tests gave only slightly better preoperative sensitivity than CEA alone or GICA alone but proved fairly sensitive for postoperative follow-up of the patients. AFP was of little value for either purpose.
Monoclonal Antibodies to αDna Polymerase as a Marker of Cell Proliferative Activity
Authors: Alama Angela , Ferrini Silvano , Gaddi Marco , Nicolin Angelo
Published: April 2018

A hybridoma cell line (5F) secreting monoclonal antibodies directed to αDNA polymerase has been developed. Kinetic studies on peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with mitogen and human colon cancer cell lines established in vitro were made by the two autoradiographic techniques of Thymidine Labelling Inde and Primer-dependent αDNA polymerase Labelling Index and the immunoperoxidase assay (PAP) with monoclonal antibody to αDNA polymerase. We demonstrated the exclusively intranuclear presence of αDNA polymerase in lymphocytes induced to proliferate and actively growing colon cancer cells in contrast with the cytoplasmic distribution of the enzyme in resting stage populations. The feasibility of using monoclonal antibodies to αDNA polymerase to determine cell growth fraction was evaluated.
Ca 15.3 as a Tumour Marker in Breast Cancer
Authors: Schmidt-Rhode Peter , Schulz Klaus-Dieter , Sturm Gerhard , Raab-Frick Anette , Prinz Helge
Published: April 2018

CA 15.3 is an antigenic determinant associated with human mammary carcinomas. Two murine monoclonal antibodies have been raised against the determinants, and an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA-Kit, Centocor, USA) has been developed to determine the antigen levels in plasma of cancer patients. Based on the 99% confidence limit of healthy women, plasma values above 30 U/ml are considered abnormal. Plasma samples from 357 women were examined in the present study. Healthy females (n = 84) ranged below the cut-off level between < 10 and 29 U/ml. Higher values were found in 12.5% of benign breast diseases and in 23.6% of breast cancer patients, including all stages. Depending on the stage of the disease, there were elevated levels in 11% of operable breast cancer patients preoperatively, in 7% of the cases with no evidence of disease after primary treatment and in 63.5% ofpatients with disseminated mammary carcinoma. In metastasized breast cancer the frequency and the degree of abnormal titers were closely related to the extent of the metastatic disease. Follow-up examinations of 63 patients under cytotoxic therapy showed CA 15.3 changes correlating well with the clinical course in up to 90% of the antigen positive cases. The present data indicate that CA 15.3 may be useful in the surveillance of breast cancer patients. However in our study one third of the patients with metastatic breast cancer did not show any increase in CA 15.3 and must be regarded as antigen negative.
Generation and Characterization of a Murine Monoclonal Antibody Specific for the Human T1-Cd5 Molecule
Authors: Genzano Federico , Funaro Ada , Alessio Massimo , De Monte Lucia B. , Bellone Graziella , Peruzzi Licia , Zaccolo Manuela , Caligari-Cappino Federico , Malavasi Fabio
Published: April 2018

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) have found widespread applications in the characterization of the molecular and functional features of lymphocyte differentiation antigens. The present paper summarizes the results of our work dealing with the production and selection of a murine MoAb recognizing a molecule expressed during the whole differentiative life of T lymphocytes. The MoAb CB01 resulted to be specific for an apparently unique epitope of the T-cell specific membrane glycoprotein T1-CD5.
Immunobeads Test (Antibody Coated Polyacrylamide Beads) in the Immunological Characterization of Lymphoproliferative Disorders
Authors: Chisesi Teodoro , Vespignani Michele , Capnist Giovanni
Published: April 2018

Three groups of patients with immunoproliferative disorders (15 multiple myeloma, 11 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 21 chronic lymphocytic leukemia) were studied by immunological characterization and compared to a group of 20 normal subjects (controls) using anti-immunoglobulin coated polyacrylamide beads (T-B Quantigen test, QT), erythrocyte rosettes (ER), surface immunoglobulin (SIg), and monoclonal antibodies for T and B cells (OKT3; OKT11; OKT8; OKT4; IaDR); null cells (NC) and double marker (DM) cells were also considered. The values for normal subjects for T-B, NC and DM cells were comparable.

Results for the patient groups strikingly differed. There were progressively larger differences between the T and B percentages obtained with different techniques. The largest differences were seen in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the smallest in multiple myeloma patients; values were intermediate in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The different findings were related to the number of DM cells (ER +, SIg+ QT+) and the different tests used.

The importance of these findings in the diagnostic appproach to lymphoproliferative disorders is discussed.
Neuroimmunomodulation in Cancer Patients: Correlations between Melatonin and ß-Endorphin Blood Levels and T Helper/Suppressor Ratio
Authors: Barni S. , Lissoni P. , Crispino S. , Cattaneo G. , Rovelli F. , Fumagalli G. , Tancini G.
Published: April 2018

The pineal gland and opioid peptides play roles in the neuroendocrine control of immunity. Both neuroendocrine and immune dysfunctions have been observed in cancer but the importance of the altered secretion of neurohormones in the immunoincompetence of cancer patients has never been investigated. This study concomitantly evaluated neuroendocrine and immune functions in 40 patients with early or advanced neoplastic disease. In each patient, melatonin and β-endorphin blood levels and lymphocyte subtypes were determined on venous blood samples collected during the morning. Metastatic patients had lower melatonin levels and a lower T4/T8 ratio than patients without metastases but no significant correlation was found between melatonin and the T4/T8 ratio. β-endorphin levels appeared to be normal in all patients. These results suggest that melatonin and β-endorphin secretion have no role in determining immune dysfunctions in cancer.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen for Monitoring Cervical Cancer
Authors: Schmidt-Rhode P. , Schulz K.D. , Sturm G. , Häfner H. , Prinz H. , Künzig H.J.
Published: April 2018

The tumour-associated antigen was determined in the plasma of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix by radioimmunoassay. Setting a limit of 2 ng/ml, levels were abnormal in 13.4% of healthy controls, in 14% of patients with carcinoma in situ and in 62% of patients with invasive cervical SCC. The incidence of elevated SCC antigen levels and the absolute antigen plasma concentration were dependent upon the tumour load, increasing significantly with advanced stage disease. Abnormal SCC antigen values in operable cervical cancer declined to normal within one week after radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. In cases of radiotherapy antigen values took 4-6 weeks after the start of treatment to return to normal. The success of both treatment modalities was announced by an early rise in the SCC antigen in the initial phase of therapy, followed by normalisation. After successful primary treatment and a complete remission during further follow-up SCC antigen in plasma was only increased in 3.8% of the cases. Retrospective evaluations in ten patients with progressive disease showed the reappearance of abnormal SCC titers and further increase preceeding the clinically detectable relapse or progression, with a median interval of 8 weeks. The present study indicates that SCC antigen determination is not useful for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer, but it is a potential means for monitoring the efficacy of individual anticancer therapy of SCC of the uterine cervix and for detecting recurrent disease.
Ca 19-9 Assay in Patients with Extrahepatic Cholestatic Jaundice
Authors: Barone D. , Onetto M. , Conio M. , Paganuzzi M. , Saccomanno S. , Aste H. , Pugliese V.
Published: April 2018

Serum concentrations of the CA 19-9 tumour marker were determined in 35 patients with histologically proven bilio-pancreatic malignancies associated with obstructive jaundice and in 35 patients with benign extrahepatic jaundice due to choledocholithiasis.

At a cut-off level of 37 U/ml the sensitivity of this assay was 82.8%, but the specificity was very low (45.7%). Thus CA 19-9 can not be employed to differentiate between malignant and benign extrahepatic jaundice.

Serial samples of CA 19-9 were achieved in 7 patients with benign and in 6 patients with malignant biliary obstruction, before and after the disappearance of jaundice. Serum concentrations of this tumour-antigen returned to normal concurrently with the bilirubin values only in patients with benign obstruction, remaining unchanged in all cases of malignancies.

The data suggest that patients with extrahepatic jaundice should be evaluated by other examinations or by collecting serial samples for this assay.
Serum and Salivary Cea and Gica Levels in Oral Cavity Tumours
Authors: Negri L. , Pacchioni D. , Calabrese F. , Giacomasso S. , Mastromatteo V. , Fazio M.
Published: April 2018

The gastrointestinal cancer-associated antigen (GICA) is recognised by a monoclonal antibody in both serum and tissues ofpatients with neoplasm of the GI tract. This study compared the serum and saliva values of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and GICA in 19 healthy subjects, 43 patients with benign oral cavity lesions and 26 with histologically confirmed squamous-cell carcinomas. Serum CEA levels were much the same in all three groups, whereas salivary values were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in both patient groups than in the controls. Serum GICA gave the opposite result: lower in carcinoma than in controls (p < 0.001) and benign lesions (N.S.), while salivary GICA was significantly lower in carcinoma than in both the other two groups (p < 0.001). The meaning of this difference between the values for the two antigens is discussed.
The Contribution of Prostatic Acid Phosphatase and Prostatic Specific Antigen in the Diagnosis of Prostatic Cancer
Authors: van Dalen A. , Helmhout D.H. , van Caubergh R.D.
Published: April 2018

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) were measured by immunochemical methods using test preparations from two different companies. In 66 patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate a good correlation was found only between PSA levels (orthogonal regression analysis: y = 1.77 x –- 0.68; r = 0.995). Discrimination analysis between benign hyperplasia and new prostatic cancer (28 patients), using ROC curves, revealed a sensitivity for prostatic cancer of about 30 percent using both PAP methods and of about 58 percent using both PSA methods at the 95-percentile of benign hyperplasia. The PSA methods were both more sensitive in detecting prostatic cancer than the PAP methods.
Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Skin (Merkel Cell Carcinoma): Immunocytochemical Study of a Case
Authors: Senatore S. , Zizzi L. , D'Astore D. , Jotti G. Saccani , Gabrielli M.
Published: April 2018

The immunocytochemical phenotype was evaluated in a case of Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin. Intermediate filaments, i.e. neurofilament, glial fibrillary acid protein, cytokeratins, keratin and panfilament as well as S-100 protein, calcitonin and epithelial membrane antigen were detected by immunoperoxidase methods. Nodular positivity for neurofilament was observed. The remaining intermediate filaments and other markers were negative. Thus the origin of Merkel cell carcinoma appears uncertain and this tumor probably has neuroendocrine activity.
Serum Neopterin Levels in Lung and Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy And/Or Chemotherapy
Authors: von Ingersleben G. , Souchon R. , Fitzner R.
Published: April 2018

The elevated neopterin levels observed in numerous haemotological diseases and parenchymatous malignomas suggested neopter in might be useful as a tumor marker. In a group of 60 patients suffering from advanced lung (18) or breast (42) cancer, serial determinations of serum neopterin were made before, during and after radiation and/or chemotherapy, during an observation period of 18 months, to check the potential value of neopterin in the therapeutic management of these tumor types. The neopterin profiles were compared with the clinical course and analysed with regard to response to therapy. Numbers of pathologically elevated serum neopterin levels were low. In only few cases was any agreement detected between changes in neopterin levels and therapeutic effects. Even chemotherapeutically induced depression in white blood counts generally did not increase serum neopterin levels. Thus the clinical suitability of neopterin as an adjuvant parameter in assessing therapeutic effects in lung or breast cancer could not be documented. (Int J. Biol Markers 1988; 3: 135-139)
Side-Effects of Monoclonal Antibody Infusions for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer
Authors: van der Linden E.F.H. , van Kroonenburgh M.J.P.G. , Pauwels E.K.J.
Published: April 2018

This literature review presents an inventory of the nature and incidence of side-effects that arise from the clinical application of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Most side-effects occurred during therapy. Toxic reactions, such as fever, sweating and chills, were more common than immunological skin reactions; they were observed predominantly in association with the elimination of circulating target cells. Dosage and rate of administration of the MoAb appeared to have little influence on the reactions, which disappeared quickly and did not necessitate discontinuation of treatment. Serum sickness, anaphylactic reactions and bronchospasms were not common; the patients reacted quickly to the indicated therapy. Prevention of the side-effects described here, especially during diagnostic applications, was such that they need not form a barrier to the clinical use of MoAb.
Tumour Markers and POMB/ACE Chemotherapy in the Management of Ovarian Germ Cell Tumours (GCTs)
Authors: Newlands E.S. , Holden L. , Bagshawe K.D.
Published: April 2018

The management of ovarian germ cell tumours (GCTs) has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. The combination of the introduction of tumour markers which accurately monitor the behaviour of the majority of germ cell tumours together with the introduction of newer chemotherapeutic agents has meant that few patients even with metastases should succumb from their disease.

The tumour markers, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) and, to a lesser extent, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) are routinely used in assisting diagnosis, monitoring response to treatment and increasing the sensitivity of follow-up ofpatients after completing treatment. Analysis of our last 51 patients with all cell types of ovarian germ cell tumour has confirmed the importance of both hCG and AFP in that 45 (88%) of 51 patients had either or both of these tumour markers raised at the start of treatment for metastatic disease. Our data on LDH is incomplete since this has not been a routine assay until 1984 and, of the patients with active disease 10 (48%) had raised LDH at the start of treatment. PLAP has also been measured in a number of patients both on active treatment and in remission. 11 (50%) had raised levels of PLAP at the start of treatment but there was also a false positive rate of8 (24%) of the 33 patients who were in remission and had not subsequently relapsed.
Serum Levels of Melatonin in Cancer Patients and their Relation to Body Sizes
Authors: Barni S. , Lissoni P. , Crispino S. , Rovelli F. , Esposti G. , Fraschini F. , Tancini G.
Published: April 2018

Melatonin secretion is often enhanced in patients with cancer. In the light of a reported correlation between melatonin levels and body size, we investigated blood levels of this pineal hormone in a group of 72 patients affected by cancer, 30 of whom had body weight within the normal range, 30 were obese and the last 12 cases had body weight below the normal range, in order to establish whether in fact melatonin blood concentrations were related to body size. Melatonin levels were high in 19/72 patients (26%). The mean levels of the pineal hormone were similar in patients with normal, low and high body weight. Finally, there was no significant correlation between melatonin values and body weight, height or surface. Melatonin secretion thus does not appear to be influenced by body size in cancer patients.
Prognostic Value of Histochemical Evaluation of Steroid Binding Sites in Breast Tumors
Authors: Lampertico P. , Stagni F. , Crosignani P.
Published: April 2018

Frozen tumor sections and/or cytological smears and aspirates from 614 pateints were studied utilizing the fluorescent estrogen binding technique of Lee. Survival analyses of the results indicated that women less than 55 years of age and with positive tumors had a statistically better disease-free interval and survived significantly longer than older patients. The method is thus an independent predictor of survival and disease-free interval in this siubgroup of breast cancer patients.
ROC Analysis of Diagnostic Performance Utilizing Serum Antiproteases in Cancer Patients
Authors: Millán J. , Lorenzo A. , Gallurt P. , Rodriguez P. , Romero J. , López J.J.B. , Senra A.
Published: April 2018

Assessment of the accuracy of diagnostic procedures is made independent of diagnostic criteria by means of a receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC) curve. We performed ROC analysis for the major serum antiproteases: alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) and alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), in 99 cancer patients compared with 71 normal individuals. A1AT and A2M were significantly higher in cancer patients (p < 0.0005). By comparing true positive and false positive rates for different serum levels, ROC analysis showed that serum A1AT quantification seems more useful in clinical practice than serum A2M.
Methods of Simultaneous Visualization of Cytoplasmic Enzyme Reactivity and Cell Surface Antigens (by Cytochemistry Combined with Immunocytochemistry) in Individual Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cells
Authors: Gloghini A. , Cozzi M. , Sulfaro S. , Volpe R. , Carbone A.
Published: April 2018

Enzyme cytochemistry alone, and more recently, immunocytohistochemistry have been satisfactorily used by hematologists and hematopathologists for the study, diagnosis and classification of human hematological and lymphoproliferative disorders. To enhance the potential of these techniques, the possibility of combining immunocytohistochemical techniques with enzyme cytohistochemistry with simultaneous visualization of both reaction products has been examined by some investigators. This approach has been applied to normal, reactive and neoplastic material using mainly cell suspensions and frozen sections, with the aim of improving cell identification in specimens containing different cell types, of determining the cytochemical profiles of well-defined lymphocyte subpopulations and of establishing the cell surface phe-notypes of cells that are positive for certain enzymes. In this paper, published reports on this subject are reviewed and compared with the experience of our study group.
Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzyme Pattern in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
Authors: Ricerca B.M. , Storti S. , Campisi S. , Pagano L. , Torre F. Dalla , Marra R. , Amato A. , Mango G. , Bizzi B.
Published: April 2018

Serum lactate dehydrogenase (S-LDH) and its isoenzyme pattern were assayed in 63 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients, 37 at diagnosis, 15 at relapse and 11 in complete remission (CR). S-LDH in NHL patients with active disease was higher than in normal subjects and CR patients (p<0.001). Among the isoenzymes, LDH-2 and LDH-5 showed no remarked differences; LDH-1 was reduced and LDH-3 and LDH-4 raised in comparison to the normal group (p<0.001). S-LDH levels and isoenzymes 1 and 4 were influenced by the stage, the histological subgroup and by the presence of general symptoms. In fact, cases in stage IV, with “high-grade malignancy” and with general symptoms, had higher S-LDH levels and more evident LDH-1 and LDH-4 changes than the other stages, the other histopathological subgroups and the cases classified as “A”. S-LDH was the same as in normal subjects in the “low-grade” and “intermediate-grade” malignancies as was LDH-1 in stage II and LDH-4 in stages II and III, in “low-grade” malignancy and in the A cases. In contrast, LDH-3 was always high, with no significant difference in relation to the variables considered.

Thus, in NHL, LDH-3 seems to be a reliable marker of the presence of the disease in any case, whereas S-LDH is more related to the spread of the lymphoma.
Monoclonal anti-CEA Antibody: Factors Affecting Localization in a Preclinical Study
Authors: Ripamonti M. , Canevari S. , Buraggi G. , Gadina M. , Turrin A. , Gasparini M. , Scassellati G. , Colnaghi M.I.
Published: April 2018

131I-labelled anti-CEA monoclonal antibody was tested in an animal model to evaluate: influence of antibody type (whole versus F(ab’)2 fragments), administration route (i.v. versus i.p.), dose of tracer (100 μCi versus 1000 μCi), growth site (s.c. versus i.p.) and size of tumor. Athymic mice bearing CEA-producing human colon carcinoma (HT-29) or human melanoma as an irrelevant tumor (MeWo) received tracer and immunoscintigraphy and the localization ratios (LR) were compared. In HT-29 bearing animals F(ab’)2 fragments localized better than the whole antibody. The LR were higher after i.p. administration of the tracer, independently of the tumor characteristics or the injected dose. The highest values were achieved when the radioactivity remaining in the whole body was below 2% of the injected dose. The images were negative when the i.p. injected dose was low or tumor growth was i.p. but positive in the other conditions (i.v. administration, high tracer dose, s.c. tumor growth).

In the animals bearing melanoma, images scored positive or negative when the tumor weight was respectively above or below 400 mg, but the LR were always low.
Radiolocalisation of an anti-CEA Monoclonal Antibody (FO23C5) and its Fragments in a Colon Carcinoma Xenograft Model
Authors: Rowlinson G. , Paganelli G. , Snook D. , Epenetos AA.
Published: April 2018

A new monoclonal antibody designated FO23C5 against a protein component of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been developed. A xenograft system of human colon cancer was used to compare the intact monoclonal IgG with its fragments ((Fab’)2 and Fab) and with an established anti-CEA antibody (MAb35) and the antibody AUA1 raised against the colon carcinoma cell line. We demonstrate that FO23C5 compares well with the existing anti-CEA antibody and with AUA1, and that F(ab’)2 fragments perform best in achieving optimal tumour to normal tissue ratios compared with intact IgG and Fab fragment.
Tissue and Serum TPA in Subjects at Risk for Bladder Cancer
Authors: Giovagnoli M.R. , Di Fraia P. , Manna A. , Marafini V. , Valli C. , Marchei P. , Vecchione A.
Published: April 2018

We tested the presence of tumour polypeptide antigen (TPA) in lower urinary tract cells from 59 workers exposed to known bladder carcinogens and from 30 control subjects. We then correlated immunocytological expression and serum TPA levels. Lower urinary tract cells from 31 subjects gave either moderately or strongly positive immunocytological stains. Five also had high serum TPA. The detection of TPA by cytology and in serum differed significantly in workers exposed to cancer agents and the control group.
Detection of Five Circulating Antigens in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Screm M.C. , Grandis S. , Cartei G. , Cattaruzzi E.
Published: April 2018

Five tumor markers (CEA, Ferritin, CA-50, TPA and SCC) were assayed in 54 patients with ear, nose and throat (ENT) cancers in early and advanced stages. The specificity of these markers always exceeded 95%. Their sensitivity ranged from 13 to 43%, and reached 72% as a combination of all five markers.

No distinction was found between early and advanced stage of illness. These markers seem to have no distinct function in ENT oncological diagnosis and follow-up because objective data is easily available even in early tumors.
Serum Thymidine Kinase (TK) Evaluation in HIV Infection
Authors: Sabbatani S. , Fini A. , Raise E. , Gritti F.M.
Published: April 2018

Serum thymidine kinase (TK), measured using Prolifigen TK-REA, from AB Sangtec Medical, was investigated in 24 HIV seropositive patients without immunological alterations, 26 seropositives with immunological alterations, 125 LAS, 25 ARC, and 20 AIDS. Subjects with serological markers of prior EBV, HBV, and CMV infection were included but none with acute infectious mononucleosis or acute viral hepatitis. Serum TK was elevated from the beginning of the HIV infection, the seropositive stage, and more markedly afterwards during the course of the infection, with a close correlation with the stage.

TK also increased during AZT treatment, due to bone-marrow toxicity. On lowering the dosage or discontinuing the drug TK returned to basal levels.

Although the rise in serum may well not be correlated only with the HIV infection, it does add to the picture given by other clinical and/or laboratory methods. Serum TK can be a helpful laboratory test in the follow-up ofpatients with HIV infection, especially when serum levels are disproportionate to the stage, opportunistic infections, lymphoproliferative malignancies. In such cases bone-marrow toxicity due to treatment can be suspected.
Comparative Analysis of CEA and SCC Serum Markers with IAP in Human Lung Cancer
Authors: Castelli M. , Salvati F. , Cruciani A. , Portalone L. , Giannarelli D. , Ferrini U.
Published: April 2018

Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) and immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) were measured in 37patients with lung cancers, in 24 with non-cancer pulmonary diseases and in 24 normal controls. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of these three markers alone and combined. The highest specificity was observed for SCC (83.3%) and the highest sensitivity for IAP (94.6%). The best accuracy was obtained with the combined determination of CEA and SCC. In cancer and non-cancer pulmonary diseases the best correlation was observed between CEA and SCC (r=0.30 in cancer and r=0.45 in non-cancer pulmonary diseases). Although the IAP test is not specific in the detection of lung cancer, its use may be helpful in monitoring the acute phase reactions that occur very frequently in this malignancy.
Comparison of Prolactin, CA 15–3 and TPA in Breast Carcinomas
Authors: Bhatavdekar J.M. , Trivedi S.N. , Shah N.G. , Patel D.D. , Karelia N.H. , Shukla M.K. , Ghosh N. , Vora H.H.
Published: April 2018

Circulating prolactin, CA 15–3 and TPA were assayed pre-therapeutically and sequentially thereafter from 68 breast cancer patients attending the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad — a regional cancer institute in Western India. The three marker values were correlated with the stage, histologic grade and disease status. At least one of the markers was elevated in 82% of patients. CA 15–3 and TPA levels were elevated with the advancement of stage. Prolactin levels were high in poorly differentiated tumors of pre-menopausal patients. The disease status was effectively reflected by the levels of prolactin and CA 15–3. TPA showed high false positivity so was of no use as an indicator of disease status. Recurrence could be predicted early, with a lead time of 3–6 months using prolactin and CA 15–3.
Distribution, Kinetics and Immunoscintigraphy of 131-I Labelled Intact Antifibrinogen-fibrin Antibody (AbFbg) and its F(ab')2 Fragment
Authors: Svihovcova P. , Brousil J. , Vitek F. , Seblova J. , Koprivova H. , Novak F. , Raban P. , Dienstbier Z.
Published: April 2018

131-I-labelled anti fibrin-fibrinogen antibody (AbFbg) was compared with its F(ab')2 fragment in distribution studies and by immunoscintigraphy with a view to tumour visualization in tumour bearing rats. The distribution studies indicated that the intact antibody is more concentrated in tumour tissue than the F(ab')2 fragment. By 168h after injection, when tumour-to-tissue ratios were highest in the majority of tissues, the tumour concentration of intact antibody was 3 to 4 times that of the F(ab')2 fragment. The intact antibody is more suitable than the F(ab')2 fragment for tumour imaging especially in the abdominal region where the highest tumour-to tissue ratios were obtained with intact antibody in liver, spleen, intestines and kidneys.
Immunohistochemical Modifications of “B Cells” in Experimentally-induced Pancreatic Cancer — Correlation with Serum Insulin Values
Authors: Del Mar Abad M. , Paz J.I. , Pedraz M.J. , Muñoz E. , Bullón A.
Published: April 2018

In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma induced in the Syrian hamster by N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine (Bop) B cells persisted with focal dispersion in the tumor zone. The localization of these varied depending on whether the animals had initial or long standing tumors. In the animals with initial tumors, immunohistochemical techniques indicated the B cells formed part of the tumoral glands and/or were intimately related to the cells of the walls of the tumor glands or present in the stroma. Insulin values were high in these animals. In the longer-developed tumors, insulin levels tended to be lower and although B cells were seen forming part of the tumor glands, those in the tumoral stroma were predominant.
Prognostic Significance of CA 15.3 in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Scaramuzzi M. , Amorotti C. , De Palma M. , Falchi A.M. , De Maria D. , Casolo P.
Published: April 2018

We have investigated the possible relation between serum levels of CA 15.3 and disease status in 110 patients after radical mastectomy for breast cancer, with metastatic diffusion. Its persistant elevation was usually related to a very poor prognosis.

In patients who died within 18 months the marker was always elevated. In case of progression of the disease, the marker level appeared to be consistently correlated with the general clinical condition. In healthy patients with stable disease the marker remained near the normal range.
Estrogen Receptors in Colorectal Adenocarcinomas and in Other Large Bowel Diseases
Authors: Sciascia C. , Olivero G. , Comandone A. , Festa T. , Fiori M.G. , Enrichens F.
Published: April 2018

Seventy-two patients with tumor and ten with non-neoplastic colon disease were studied for the presence of estrogen receptors (ER) by three different methods. Only seven specimens (six primary adenocarcinomas and one recurrent cancer) had an ER concentration above 3 fm/mg of cytosolic protein, with no sex, age and tumor stage correlation. Our results suggest that the large bowel does not contain a cytosolic receptor for estradiol.
Lack of Changes in Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor Serum Levels during Chemotherapy-induced Lymphocyte Damage
Authors: Archili C. , Lissoni P. , Cattaneo G. , Rovelli F. , Brivio F. , Tancini G. , Barni S.
Published: April 2018

The biological significance of soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R) is still unknown; in particular, it is not yet clear whether their increase in the blood may reflect activation of immune cells, or whether it is related to an immune dysfunction. To investigate this problem, we evaluated serum levels of sIL-2R before and after administration of a highly lymphocytolitic chemotherapy (FEC: fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide) in a group of 6 patients with advanced breast cancer. SIL-2R were analyzed in relation to lymphocyte number. Absolute mean number of lymphocytes was significantly lower after than before chemotherapy. On the contrary, no significant difference was seen in sIL-2R mean levels, and no significant correlation was observed between changes in sIL-2R and in lymphocyte number following chemotherapy. These results would exclude that sIL-2R may simply be due to a passive release following lymphocytic damage.
An International Proficiency Study with the Tumor Marker CA 125
Authors: Zwirner M. , Bieglmayer C.H. , Klapdor R. , Kreienberg R. , Lüthgens M.
Published: April 2018

A strict and adequate quality assurance program is the only real guarantee of the reliability of laboratory test results. Such proficiency testing was carried out for the CA 125 test system in five university laboratories over a period of three years (1984 - 1987) using five different reference materials (BIOREF, FRG). A concentration-dependent performance profile could thus be established evaluating a total of 301 assays. Intra-assay precision of the test ranged between 4.8 and 11.5%, and interassay precision between 13.6 and 19.1%. Laboratory specific average values of the individual reference materials ranged between 26 and 32 U/ml for reference 1, 51 and 59 U/ml for reference 2, 109 and 121 U/ml and 193 to 240 U/ml for references 3 and 4, respectively. Mean values for reference 5 ranged between 401 and 458 U/ml. There was no significant difference between mean values for the laboratories. Considerable batch-dependent variations of values became evident during the study but these were not indicated by the kit control supplied by the manufacturer. During the whole investigation period no systematic drift in values could be observed using trend analysis, indicating excellent stability of the reference material if stored frozen (–20°C).
Tartrate-resistant Acid Phosphatase (TRAP) Activity in Serum: Potential Use in Assessing Bone Resorption in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Monti M. , Scazzoso A. , Calzaferri G. , Santi I. , D'Aprile E. , Cunietti E.
Published: April 2018

We measured serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity in 120 healthy subjects and 35 patients with multiple myeloma as well as urinary hydroxyproline excretion in the myeloma patients. Young subjects (0-18 years) showed higher TRAP levels (ANOVA p < 0.01) compared with the other age classes due to the more active bone remodelling processes associated with growth. Myeloma patients with bone lytic lesions (MM+) showed higher serum TRAP values than controls (p < 0.01). Hydroxyproline excretion was higher in MM + patients but the difference between patients with and without bone lesions was not statistically significant. Our data suggest that serum TRAP activity may be a suitable, simple biochemical test to assess bone turnover in patients with multiple myeloma but that its clinical usefulness as a marker of bone resorption needs further evaluation.
Significance of CA 72.4 Serum Levels in Gastrointestinal Diseases
Authors: Piantino P. , Taccone W. , Fusaro A. , Daziano E. , Polloni R. , Mosso R.
Published: April 2018

In order to evaluate the usefulness of Ca 72.4 tumor associated antigen assay in gastrointestinal diseases, we have studied 751 patients suffering from benign (376) and neoplastic (375) digestive diseases and 305 normal controls. The cut-off point was fixed at 6 U/ml. The Ca 72.4 assay, with the proposed method, provides additional information only in gastric cancers; the positivity of the marker in gastric neoplasms is 38.4% and the specificity vs gastric ulcers and atrophic gastritis is 99%. In six patients with gastric cancer, the Ca 72.4 is the only positive test. The most striking observation to be made from the current study is a no good sensitivity of the marker for gastrointestinal cancers (29.6% vs 35.7 and 37.6% for CEA and Ca 19-9 respectively), but rather the excellent specificity of the Ca 72.4 immunoassay with respect to beign gastrointestinal diseases (98.7%), vs values of specificity for CEA and Ca 19-9 of 94 and 92%. In conclusion, the high specificity of this marker for gastrointestinal neoplasms may be very interesting in follow-up studies. In fact, an elevation of serum levels of Ca 72.4 should always be taken seriously.