bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictive and Prognostic Role of P53 According to Tumor Phenotype in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Preoperative Chemotherapy: A Single-Institution Analysis
Authors: Guarneri Valentina , Barbieri Elena , Piacentini Federico , Giovannelli Simona , Ficarra Guido , Frassoldati Antonio , Maiorana Antonino , D'Amico Roberto , Conte PierFranco 
Published: March 2018

Introduction and aims The p53 protein is a mediator of the cellular response to DNA damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive and/or prognostic value of p53 expression in relation to the molecular subtypes of breast cancer in patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy. Patients and methods Patients with stage II-III breast cancer were included in the study. The expression of p53 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on the diagnostic core biopsy specimen. Patients received 4–6 courses of preoperative chemotherapy. Pathological complete response (pCR) was defined as complete disappearance of invasive tumor in the breast and axillary lymph nodes. Results 154 patients were included in the study and the molecular subtypes of their tumors were classified as follows: triple negative 18.2%, hormone receptor positive 60.4%, and HER2 positive 21.4%. p53 was expressed in 43.5% of the patients. A significant association between p53 expression and breast cancer molecular subtypes, tumor differentiation, and proliferation was observed. pCR was achieved in 8 patients (5.2%). p53 expression, molecular subtype, and nuclear grading were significant predictors of pCR (odds ratio for pCR in patients with p53-expressing tumors 10.03, p=0.0077). In univariate analysis, the expression of p53 as well as high proliferation and lymph node involvement after preoperative chemotherapy were predictors of a worse disease-free survival. Patients with p53 positivity also had a worse overall survival. In multivariate analysis, both p53 expression and nodal status after preoperative chemotherapy were significantly associated with disease-free and overall survival: the hazard ratios for relapse and death in patients with p53-expressing versus non-p53-expressing tumors were 2.29 (p=0.015) and 7.74 (p=0.002), respectively. The hazard ratios for relapse and death in node-positive versus node-negative patients were 3.63 (p=0.003) and 3.64 (p=0.041), respectively. Conclusions In this series of patients, p53 expression was significantly associated with markers of aggressive tumor biology, and with a higher likelihood of attaining pCR. p53 expression was a negative prognostic parameter for disease-free and overall survival in univariate and multivariate analysis.
Significance of Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and its Combination with Her-2 Codon 655 Polymorphism in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Breast Cancer
Authors: Papadopoulou Evropi , Tripsianis Gregory , Anagnostopoulos Konstantinos , Tentes Ioannis , Kakolyris Stylianos , Galazios Georgios , Sivridis Efthimios , Simopoulos Konstantinos , Kortsaris Alexandros 
Published: March 2018

Purpose The present study was conducted to clarify the diagnostic and prognostic significance of TNF-alpha and its combination with HER-2 Ile655Val SNP in breast cancer. Methods In this case-control study, 56 consecutive patients with primary breast cancer were prospectively evaluated. The control group consisted of 45 healthy women. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha were measured by quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). HER-2 SNP was genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. Results Serum TNF-alpha was significantly increased in patients compared to controls. ROC analysis indicated a cutoff point of 11.00 pg/mL to classify breast cancer patients (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 71%). Elevated TNF-alpha levels were associated with larger, poorly differentiated, invasive and advanced-stage tumors, and >3 positive lymph nodes. Regarding HER-2 SNP, patients with Ile-Val and Val-Val genotypes had significant TNF-α elevation compared with homozygous Ile-Ile patients. In multivariate analysis, high serum TNF-alpha remained an independent prognostic factor of worse overall survival; its combination with Val-Val genotype predicted a worse prognosis than high TNF-alpha alone. Conclusions Serum TNF-a could be used clinically as a useful tumor marker for diagnosis, disease extent and outcome of breast cancer. The negative impact on survival seems to be enhanced through the interaction with HER-2 Ile655Val SNP.
Expression of ERCC1 and Class III β-Tubulin in Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and its Correlation with Platinum-Based Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Zhang Shucai , Li Qi , Zhang Quan , Wang Jinghui , Zhang Haiqing , Zhang Zongde , Wang Qunhui , Yang Xinjie , Gu Yanfei , Zhang Hui 
Published: March 2018

Objective To explore the relationship between the expression of excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) and class III β-tubulin and the clinical characteristics and overall survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Immunohistochemical analysis was used to determine the protein expression of ERCC1 and class III β-tubulin in 160 completely resected NSCLC primary tumor samples, 50 of which were paired with adjacent normal tissue samples and another 40 benign lung lesion tissue samples as controls. Clinical data at baseline, disease-free survival and overall survival were also collected. Univariate and multivariate Cox models were used to analyze the risk factors. Results In 160 tumor samples, the ERCC1 and class III β-tubulin positive rates obtained with immunohistochemistry were 46.9% and 49.4%, respectively. Both biomarkers had a higher positive rate in male patients. For patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, ERCC1 positivity was associated with longer survival (median survival time 73 vs 53 months, p=0.041), while in patients treated with platinum chemotherapy, ERCC1 positivity tended to be associated with poor survival (median survival time 41 vs 54 months, p=0.014). Class III β-tubulin positivity was also associated with poor survival (median survival time 38 vs 58 months, p<0.001), but had no influence on the survival of patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions ERCC1 and class III β-tubulin could be important survival predictors for completely resected NSCLC patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Further prospective studies need to be performed to test this hypothesis in Chinese patients.
Impact of Cyp1A1 and Comt Genotypes on Breast Cancer Risk in Mexican Women: A Pilot Study
Authors: Moreno-Galván Mónica , Herrera-González Norma Estela , Robles-Pérez Vera , Velasco-Rodríguez Julio C. , Tapia-Conyer Roberto , Sarti Elsa 
Published: March 2018

Background Data suggest that estrogen-metabolizing genes may be involved in breast cancer carcinogenesis. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the association of CYP1A1 and COMT polymorphisms with this disease. Material and methods: A pilot case-control study was conducted with Mexican women. Ninety-one breast cancer patients and 94 healthy controls were selected. Epidemiological and clinical questionnaires were answered by all participants, and genotyping data were obtained. CYP1A1 3801 T>C (rs4646903), CYP1A1 4889 A>G (rs1048943) and COMT 1947 G>A (rs4680) polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. Results The results showed a high risk of breast cancer in women carrying the CYP1A1 (3801 T>C) m2/m2 genotype (OR=2.52; 95%CI=1.04–6.08). The risk was higher in postmenopausal women (OR=3.38; 95%CI=1.05–10.87). No association between COMT 1947 G>A (rs4680) or CYP1A1 4889 A>G (rs1048943) and breast cancer was found. Conclusions This study suggests that the CYP1A1 (3801 T>C) m2/m2 genotype may contribute to breast cancer susceptibility in Mexican women.
Comparison between Plasma and Serum Osteopontin Levels: Usefulness in Diagnosis of Epithelial Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Cristaudo Alfonso , Foddis Rudy , Bonotti Alessandra , Simonini Silvia , Vivaldi Agnese , Guglielmi Giovanni , Ambrosino Nicolino , Canessa Pier Aldo , Chella Antonio , Lucchi Marco , Mussi Alfredo , Mutti Luciano 
Published: March 2018

Background A potential role of serum osteopontin (OPN) and serum mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has been recently reported. Although the most important data regarding the role of OPN in MPMs derive from the marker's measurement in serum samples, most commercial laboratory kits for OPN assay are suitable only for measuring plasma levels, as indicated by the manufacturers. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of preanalytic variables on serum and plasma OPN, to compare serum and plasma OPN in the same population, and to assess whether OPN levels can aid in the diagnostic distinction of patients with MPM versus benign respiratory disease (BRD) and healthy subjects exposed to asbestos. Methods The influence of preanalytic variables such as the length of storage at different temperatures and the number of thawings of samples on serum and plasma OPN measurements were evaluated. We measured OPN in 239 plasma samples from 207 asbestos-exposed subjects including 94 healthy controls and 113 subjects with BRD, and 32 patients with epithelial MPM, employing a commercially available ELISA. Serum OPN was measured in 196 of the same 239 samples from 80 healthy subjects, 92 BRD patients and 24 MPM patients. Results We found that both serum and plasma OPN levels were influenced by storage at –80°C and by the number of thawings, while serum OPN was influenced also by storage at room temperature. Plasma and serum OPN levels were significantly higher (p<0.0001) in patients with epithelial MPM than in the healthy control group and the BRD group. The application of a ROC curve for plasma OPN resulted in an AUC value of 0.780 with a best cutoff of 878.65 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 68.8% and a specificity of 84.5%. The AUC for sOPN was 0.725 with a best cutoff of 16.06 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 62.5% and a specificity of 87.3%. Within the control group no significant correlation was observed between age, duration of asbestos exposure, pack-years in current smokers, lung function or imaging parameters and plasma or serum OPN. Conclusions These data suggest that plasm OPN and serum OPN are not influenced by confounding factors such as age, smoking habits and asbestos exposure. Plasma and serum OPN may be useful markers in the diagnosis of epithelial MPM in addition to traditional radiological exams. However, in our opinion plasma OPN is preferable to serum OPN because it is more stable and measurements of OPN in serum are less reliable.
Is Circulating D-Dimer Level a Better Prognostic Indicator than Cea in Resectable Colorectal Cancer? Our Experience on 199 Cases
Authors: Pedrazzani Corrado , Cerullo Guido , Marrelli Daniele , Fernandes Eduardo , Carlucci Filippo , Corso Giovanni , Bettarini Francesca , De Stefano Alfonso , Roviello Franco 
Published: March 2018

Purpose To evaluate the clinical impact of D-dimer (DD) as a tumor marker in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The prognostic value of preoperative DD measurement was assessed in relation to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels. Methods DD and CEA levels were measured preoperatively in 199 patients who underwent resection for CRC and the results were analyzed statistically. Results The preoperative mean (±SD) levels of DD and CEA were 347.5 (±940.1) ng/mL and 106.4 (±1099.2) ng/mL. The DD level was significantly correlated with the nature of surgery (emergency vs. elective; p=0.002), presence of residual tumor (R1–2 vs R0; p=0.037), and tumor diameter (p<0.001). Conversely, DD was not correlated with tumor grade, pT, pN and M stages, and stage according to the Dukes classification. The 5-year survival rates were 80% and 64% for patients with negative and positive DD values, respectively (p=0.156). CEA was significantly related to all major prognostic factors (resection category, pT, pN and M stages as well as Dukes stage). A significantly worse prognosis was observed for patients with positive CEA levels. Multivariate analysis confirmed CEA as an independent prognostic factor (p=0.005), whilst DD was not (p=0.796). Conclusions The possible clinical usefulness of preoperative assessment of DD suggested by previous studies has not been confirmed by our data. CEA was confirmed to be the most reliable and valid indicator of prognosis.
Clinical Evaluation of a New Two-Site Assay for CA125 Antigen
Authors: Capstick V. , Maclean G.D. , Suresh M.R. , Bodnar D. , Lloyd S. , Shepert L. , Longenecker B.M. , Krantz M. 
Published: March 2018

As appropriate surgery and chemotherapy can improve both quality of life and survival of patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma, there has been a pressing need for “serodiagnostic” assays to enable close patient monitoring. CA 125 antigen has previously been described as a useful tumor marker of ovarian cancer. This is the first clinical evaluation of a radioimmunoassay using two new monoclonal antibodies, B27.1 and B43.13, that react with separate sites on the glycoprotein marker CA 125. Using the new assay, the majority of patients with clinically or radiologically detectable disease had serum CA 125 antigen levels well above the upper limit seen with random apparently healthy donors, while only three patients who were believed free of disease had elevated levels. Disease progression was associated with increasing values of serum CA 125 antigen, while response to therapy was associated with a steady decline in serum CA 125 antigen levels. Seven patients had steadily rising serum CA 125 antigen levels after initially having normal levels. The mean lead time between rise above normal and clinical or radiological evidence of relapse was 5 months (range 2 to 12 months). The merits of further surgical intervention are illustrated by the serial values of two patients followed after chemotherapy. The assay appears to have value in monitoring response to therapy and in detecting disease relapse at a time when appropriate therapeutic intervention is still possible or likely to be beneficial. Furthermore, monitoring CA 125 antigen was shown to be of benefit in assessing response to chemotherapy in a few patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, and may be useful in this group of patients in determining those likely to benefit from aggressive chemotherapy.
Growth Fraction of Colorectal Carcinoma (Ki67): A Comparative Study
Authors: Benetti A. , Berenzi A. , Grigolato P. 
Published: March 2018

We studied the growth fraction of55 resected colorectal adenocarcinomas by means of a three-step immunoperoxidase technique (avidin-biotin-peroxidase) using the monoclonal antibody Ki67 directed against a cell proliferation-associated nuclear antigen. The percentage of Ki67-positive cells was evaluated independently by two observers, and a Ki67 score was obtained for each case. No correlation was observed between Ki67 staining and patient's age and sex, tumor size and localization or grading and staging according to Dukes’ method (modified by Astler-Coller and Turnbull). The growth fraction showed extreme heterogeneity in the cases examined, within each grade of differentiation.
Clinical Significance of Tumor Necrosis Factor in Patients with Bronchogenic Carcinoma and Benign Lung Diseases: A Comparative Study
Authors: Rapellino M. , Pecchio F. , Aimo G. , Priolo G. , Baldi S. , Ruffini E. , Cianci R. 
Published: March 2018

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) was determined in the serum of 72 lung carcinoma patients. Twenty-four healthy subjects younger than 50 years and 10 healthy subjects older than 70 years were considered as control group. TNF was also measured in 20 patients with stage I sarcoidosis and in 15 patients with pulmonary fibrosis. The marker was detected in 32% of cases in the neoplastic group, in 37.5% of disease confined to the chest and in 25% of advanced disease cases. A large proportion of TNF-positive samples was found in sarcoidosis (30%), and even larger in pulmonary fibrosis (66.6%). TNF was also present in healthy subjects older than 70 (40%). We conclude that TNF is not specific of malignancy, being demonstrable in other benign pulmonary diseases and even in the course of physiological aging.
Simultaneous Determination of Urinary CEA, Ferritin and TPA in Egyptian Bladder Cancer Patients
Authors: Halim A.-B. , El-Ahmady O. , Hamza S. , Aboul-Ela M. , Oehr P. 
Published: March 2018

Urinary carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin (Fer) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) were determined in 328 cases (106 with blader cancer, 152 with non-malignant urinary tract disease and 70 healthy controls). CEA was determined by the kit supplied by Roche Diagnostica (CEA EIA Doumab 60), ferritin by the Tandem-E Fer kit supplied by Hybritech and TPA by the Prolifigen TPA-IRMA kit supplied by Sangtec Medical. The results of this work revealed that combined determination of urine CEA and Fer, CEA and TPA or Fer and TPA showed higher sensitivity than determination of the individual markers. There was no significant difference between combined and individual marker determination with respect to false positivity in non-malignant urinary tract diseases. At 97% specificity, the sensitivities of urine CEA, Fer and TPA were 82.1%,71.7% and 90.6%, respectively, while combined urine CEA & Fer, CEA & TPA and Fer & TPA showed sensitivities of 92.5%, 99.1% and 98.1%, respectively. When the specificity was related to the entire non-cancer group (patients with benign urinary tract diseases and normal controls), some reduction in the sensitivities of the combined markers was noted compared to the normal group only. In conclusion, combined determination of urine markers is superior to determination of individual markers in the diagnosis of bladder cancer
Serum Tumor Markers in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Pavlidis A.N. , Kalef-Ezra J. , Bourantas L.C. , Lambrou A. , Mavridis A. 
Published: March 2018

The levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R), beta-2 microglobulin (β-2M), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in the serum of 50 previously untreated patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as well as in 25 age and sex-matched normal controls. Compared to normal controls, mean serum levels of sIL-2R and β-2M were significantly increased in both NHL and CLL (p < 0.001) while the increase in ESR and CRP was less marked (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Comparison of these tumor markers with histologic grading showed statistically significant differences only for CRP between low, intermediate and high-grade lymphomas (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05). More advanced stages exhibited higher mean values of all serum markers than early stages (p < 0.001 for sIL-2R, β-2M and ESR and p < 0.05 for CRP). An association with the presence of b-symptoms was observed only for sIL-2R (p < 0.05). In addition, sIL-2R as well as β-2M were able to predict time to progression in patients with diffuse large-cell lymphomas. We conclude that of the four tumor markers tested sIL-2R and β-2M more frequently showed increased serum levels and were associated with clinical stage and/or presence of b-symptoms. Both sIL-2R and β-2M were also found to have prognostic significance for survival.
Immunocytochemical determination of the tumor-associated glycoproteins MCA, CA 125 and BW 495/36-P in urine of patients with epithelial tumors of the kidney and urinary bladder
Authors: Ammon A. , Weber M.H. , Wallner I. , Marschner N. , Droese M. , Gröne H.J. , Hiddemann W. 
Published: March 2018

Pre-operative and, in some cases, post-operative urine samples from 29 patients with renal cell or urinary bladder carcinoma were compared to samples from 24 healthy persons and 10 patients with nephrolithiasis and 9 patients with other benign disorders of the efferent urinary tract. The specimens were examined for the presence of MCA, CA 125 and BW 495/36-P expressing epithelial cells. The urine concentrations of the soluble antigens MCA and CA 125 were determined simultaneously in urine samples from 35 patients with renal cell or urinary bladder carcinoma, 10 patients with cystitis and 30 healthy individuals. MCA and BW 495/36-P expressing epithelial cells were significantly increased in all pre-operative urine samples of the tumor patients compared to the group of healthy persons. This increase was also seen with CA 125-positive cells in patients with bladder carcinoma, not however in patients with renal cell carcinoma. BW 495/36-P positive cells were also found in both groups of tumor patients in greater numbers than in the patients with nephrolithiasis or other benign urinary tract disorders. Based on a specificity of 97% when compared to the control urine samples, the cytological determination of the antigens MCA, CA 125 and BW 495/36-P in urinary tract cells of all tumor patients revealed a sensitivity of 48%, 33% and 79% as well as a positive predictive value of 92%, 89% and 95%, respectively. The sensitivity of CA 125 increased to 67% upon isolated analysis of patients with bladder carcinoma. The majority of labelled cells were not identifiable as tumor cells morphologically and appeared as normal transitional epithelial cells. The urinary concentration of soluble MCA was greatest in healthy patients whereas the concentration of CA 125 was increased in patients with bladder carcinoma. Our results indicate that especially the determination of BW 495/36-P expressing epithelial cells could be a helpful supplement to the cytological examination of urinary epithelium with regard to renal cell and bladder carcinoma. Determination of CA 125-positive cells appears to be of diagnostic relevance only in cases of suspected bladder carcinoma.
The clinical value of CEA and CA 15-3 in breast cancer management
Authors: Coveney E.C. , Geraghty J.G. , Sherry F. , McDermott E.W. , Fennelly J.J. , O'higgins N.J. , Duffy M.J. 
Published: March 2018

The value of tumour-associated antigens CEA and CA 15-3 was studied in patients with breast cancer over a 4-year period. A total of 252 patients with primary or recurrent disease had available and corresponding CEA and CA 15-3 values at diagnosis and during follow-up and were studied in detail. Preoperative and three-monthly serial postoperative levels were measured in each patient. Ten of 11 patients presenting with primary and concurrent metastatic disease had elevated CA 15-3 levels (> 25 I.U./ml) as compared to 6 with CEA (> 5 ng/ml). Fourty-seven patients developed locoregional recurrence of which 15 had concurrent metastatic disease. CA 15-3 was elevated in 14 cases while CEA in 11. Of 32 patients with locoregional recurrence alone, 18 later developed metastatic disease at a mean follow-up time of 17.5 months. There was a significant correlation between CA 15-3 value at locoregional recurrence and time to subsequent metastasis (r = 0. -0.57, P = 0.0133). CEA was elevated in 64%, CA 15-3 in 87% and either marker in 94% of 87 patients diagnosed with metastatic disease. Of 53 patients with serial markers and metastatic disease, 72% (38/53) had rising CA 15-3 levels prior to diagnosis with a mean lead time of 9.9 months. Use of CEA in conjunction improved lead time detection to 83%. This study demonstrates that CA 15-3 is superior to CEA at detecting metastatic disease at initial presentation and during follow-up. Use of CEA in conjunction with CA 15-3 improves the detection of systemic disease.