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A Daver

Publications and source records attributed to A Daver.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Plasma sialic acid as a marker of the effect of the treatment on metastatic colorectal cancer.

The concentration of total sialic acid (TSA) is increased in the plasma of patients with many types of cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the TSA marker in predicting the efficacy of the treatment, and to compare TSA with two common markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9). The study was performed on 44 patients treated for advanced colorectal carcinoma by a weekly 8 h continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (1300 mg/m2) plus bolus injection of L-folinic acid (100 mg/m2). TSA, CEA and CA 19-9 levels were measured before and after 3 months of treatment and their variations analysed as a function of the response to the treatment. TSA levels of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma before treatment (959 +/- 265 mg/l) were significantly higher than those of 32 healthy people (584 +/- 99 mg/l). The percentage of patients with TSA concentration above the cut-off level (782 mg/l) was 73% before treatment and 23% after. All patients who experienced an objective response to the treatment (complete, partial or minor response) (n = 29) had a significant decrease of TSA levels (t = 5.96; P < 0.001). When the disease was considered as stabilised (n = 10), TSA changed slightly, but it increased with progressive disease (4 out of 5 patients). Changes in CEA and CA 19-9 did not correlate as well as TSA to the treatment efficacy. Initial levels of TSA did not permit prediction of the efficacy of the treatment since they were not significantly different between the five response groups. TSA seems to be more likely involved in tumour changes than in tumour volume. Its determination could provide useful information about the spreading and metastatic properties of the tumour. TSA normalisation is an indicator of probable tumour growth arrest and its elevation could be a marker of relapse.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Predicting the efficacy of first iodine-131 treatment in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to search for predictors of (131)I first ablative treatment efficacy in patients with postsurgical remnants after total thyroidectomy for nonmedullary differentiated thyroid carcinoma with no known metastasis. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients were retrospectively studied. None presented antithyroglobulin antibodies. All patients received 111 MBq of (131)I for diagnostic purpose and, 9 days later, 3.7 GBq of (131)I for ablative therapy (IAT). To assess the efficacy of treatment, all patients were studied with (131)I and with thyroglobulin (Tg) plasma assays 6-15 mo later. Treatment was considered successful if no abnormal uptake was seen on whole-body scan and if the Tg plasma level was lower than 1 ng/ml. RESULTS: Ablative treatment was found to be successful in 17 patients [IAT(+)] and unsuccessful in 20 [IAT(-)]. There was no significant difference between the two groups for clinical and histological data, size of thyroid remnants on a 1:1 dot scan and TSH level just before treatment. Although Tg levels were not different in the two groups before scanning dose administration (D0), Tg levels were higher in IAT(-) group 9 days later, just before radioiodine treatment administration (D9) and, in contrast, Tg levels were higher in the IAT(+) group 5 days after treatment administration (D14). Tg percentage change between D9 and D14 was significantly higher in the IAT(+) group and, with an optimal cutoff value of 750%, this parameter would have been able to predict successful treatment in 9 of 10 cases and unsuccessful treatment in 18 of 21 cases. Conversely, Tg percentage change between D0 and D9 was significantly higher in the IAT(-) group and of 11 patients with more than 100% change, 10 belonged to this group. CONCLUSION: The increase in Tg during the first (131)I ablative treatment could be a good predictor of treatment efficacy for patients with nonmetastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Conversely, the increase in Tg observed after the administration of the scanning dose of (131)I just before ablative therapy is associated with a more frequent incomplete ablation, perhaps reflecting a stunning effect on the thyroid remnants.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

Highly sensitive immunoradiometric assay for serum thyroglobulin with minimal interference from autoantibodies.

Five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against antigenic domains on thyroglobulin (Tg) not recognized by most anti-Tg human autoantibodies (aAbs) have been used to develop an improved IRMA for serum Tg with a limit of detection of 0.2 micrograms/L. Samples are incubated for 3 h in tubes coated with four anti-Tg MAbs. After washing, the tubes are incubated with the tracer MAb for 20 h at room temperature. Dilution and reproducibility tests demonstrated assay reliability. Tests performed on samples with (n = 361) or without (n = 283) aAbs showed that the TG IRMA Pasteur is largely independent of the marked interference generally caused by aAbs. These results were confirmed with an extended population of 2759 samples. For a cutoff of 1 micrograms/L, sensitivity and specificity were 0.97 and 1, respectively, in a follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in patients treated by total thyroidectomy.

Animals↗

[Clinical assessment of free serum prostate specific antigen (PSA)].

The prostate specific antigen (PSA) level represents all of the immunoreactive serum PSA, either free or bound to alpha-1-anti-chymotrypsin. Isolated assay of free PSA has demonstrated a higher free PSA/total PSA ratio in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) than in cases of cancer, suggesting the possible use of this ratio in the detection of prostatic cancer when the PSA level is between 4 and 10 ng/mL. We retrospectively assayed free PSA in 64 cases of localized prostate cancer, 90 cases of BPH before transurethral resection and 59 healthy controls. By comparing the mean values of the 3 populations and the ROC curves, we confirmed the superiority of the free PSA/total PSA ratio over total PSA in the detection of prostatic cancer, but these results, established in a retrospectively constituted population, need to be confirmed by prospective epidemiological studies. Nevertheless, in routine urological practice, we propose that free PSA assay be performed in all men with a PSA level between 4 and 10 ng/mL and a normal prostate on digital rectal examination.

Aged↗

ras, p53 and HPV status in benign and malignant prostate tumors.

To study the role of ras, p53 genes and HPV virus (16 and 18) in the development of prostate cancer, we analyzed tissue sections from 27 patients affected with carcinomas (stages A to D) and from 24 patients with adenomas. Mutations of H, K and N-ras and p53 (exons 2-9) were studied by SSCP and DNA sequencing. Accumulation of p53 protein was studied by immunohistochemistry on tissue sections. Tumors were also analyzed for the presence of HPV16 and -18 sequences by PCR and DNA hybridization with sequence-specific oligonucleotides. No mutation was found in the three ras genes studied, either in carcinomas or adenomas. By SSCP analysis we identified p53 mutations in only 2 of 19 carcinomas studied, both in exon 7. Immunohistochemical results strongly correlate with the SSCP results: p53 protein was positive in tumors with p53 mutation but not in others; 32% of studied adenomas had detectable HPV16 DNA, while 53% of carcinomas were HPV16+. Among these I presented a p53 mutation. No HPV18 E6 sequence could be detected. Our data show that in prostate tumors from France, mutations of p53 and ras are rare events but that these tumors display detectable HPV16 DNA at a high frequency. The low incidence of p53 mutation, associated to a significant proportion of tumors showing HPV16 DNA, could suggest that in prostate cancer HPV16 infection could participate in p53 inactivation by E6.

Adenoma↗

[PS2 as a prognostic factor in 1065 cases of human breast cancer. A multicenter study].

pS2 protein assay was performed with Elsa-pS2 kit (CIS-Biointernational) on a group of 1,065 patients with operable breast cancer who underwent breast surgery in the years 1982 through 1990. The median follow-up was 57 months. This group included exclusively infiltrating ductal carcinoma with primary surgery. Age mean was 58 yr; T0-T1, 33.6%; T2-T4, 66.4%; Differentiation grade I, 29%; node negative, 53%; estrogen receptor (ER) positive, 62.4%; progesterone receptor (PR) positive, 55.2%; mean tumor size, 2.4 cm; local recurrence, 5.2%; metastasis, 17.5%. pS2 values varied from 0.1 to 707 ng/mg of cytosol protein (median, 5.6; mean 24.5; 95th percentile 112 ng/mg p). There was no significant relationship between the mean level of pS2 and age, tumor size, nodal status, whereas pS2 was related to histological grade (P < 10(-3)), ER (P < 10(-5)), and PR (P < 10(-5)). By using 2 ng/mg p as pS2 cutoff, 77/391 (19.7%) of ER+PR+ tumors were pS2-, and 122/345 (35.4%) of ER-PR-tumors were pS2+; with this cutoff, a strong relationship existed between pS2 and overall survival, but not between pS2 and relapse-free survival. With Cox multivariate analysis, pS2 protein was classified after lymph node status, histological size, ER, differentiation grade, age, clinical stage, PR. In patients with axillary lymph node involvement (N+), pS2 status could discriminate between good and bad prognosis, specially for patients with small tumors (< 2 cm) and with less than seven invaded nodes. This study showed that pS2 protein was a poor prognostic factor in comparison with classical factors.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Serum fragment of cytokeratin subunit 19 measured by CYFRA 21-1 immunoradiometric assay as a marker of lung cancer.

Cytokeratin 19 is a subunit of cytokeratin intermediate filament expressed in simple epithelia and their malignant counterparts. Therefore, it is expressed by respiratory epithelium cells and has been detected in lung cancer specimens. An immunoradiometric assay was used to detect a fragment of the cytokeratin 19, referred to as CYFRA 21-1, in the serum of 165 patients with histologically proved lung cancer (128 non-small cell and 37 small cell lung cancers). This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the reliability of this immunoradiometric assay and to identify the relationship between serum CYFRA 21-1 and different features of lung cancer including prognosis. The minimal detectable concentration detected by this assay was 0.06 ng/ml. The reliability of the immunoradiometric assay was demonstrated by the linear relationship between CYFRA 21-1 measurement and dilution of the serum, the reproducibility of the dosage in intraassay and interassay, and the high sensitivity of the method in discriminating low CYFRA 21-1 concentrations. Using a threshold of 3.6 ng/ml, sensitivity and specificity were 0.52 and 0.87, respectively. The sensitivity of the marker was highest in squamous cell carcinoma and lowest in small cell carcinoma. In non-small cell lung cancer patients, the marker varied significantly according to both stage of the disease (Kruskal-Wallis, 13.7; P < 0.005) and performance status (Kruskal-Wallis, 9.16; P < 0.05) inasmuch as a high serum CYFRA 21-1 level was associated with advanced stages, mediastinal lymph nodes, and poor performance status. Consequently, the marker was significantly lower in patients who were operated upon when compared with unresectable ones. Lung cancer patients with serum CYFRA 21-1 over 3.6 ng/ml proved to have a significantly shorter overall survival than those with a normal serum level (log rank, P = 0.007; Wilcoxon, P = 0.001). The negative prognostic effect of CYFRA 21-1 was highly significant in squamous cell carcinomas whereas it was nonsignificant for the other histologies. In Cox's model analysis, performance status, stage grouping, and CYFRA 21-1 were the only significant determinants of survival. This study supports the use of the serum fragment of cytokeratin subunit 19 CYFRA 21-1 as an independent prognostic marker of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Adult↗

[Diagnostic value of SCC-TA4 determination in 4 localizations of epidermoid cancers. An experience of the FNCLCC subgroup of radio-analysis].

A multicenter and retrospective study of the diagnosis value of SCC-TA4 in squamous cell carcinomas of 4 localisations was made with the 2 thresholds of 2 and 2.5 ng/ml. However, 3.1% of controls have a SCC value above 2.5 ng/ml. Sixteen benign gynecologic pathologies had no positive level. The benign digestive (N = 73), bronchial (N = 345) pathologies and no squamous cell carcinomas (N = 93, N = 220 respectively), had SCC-TA4 mean levels significantly lower than corresponding squamous cell carcinomas (N = 153, N = 128 respectively). Sensitivity of the test varied from 40% in the squamous cell carcinomas of the lung, to 72% in the squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix. Specificity was always very high and varied from 91% in the SCC of lung, to 100% in the SCC of uterine cervix. For the SCC of uterine cervix, oesophagus and head and neck, the mean values and incidence of positive levels increased significantly with increasing tumor size and advancing disease stage. For the SCC of uterine cervix, mean SCC-TA4 levels and percentages of positive levels above 2 ng/ml were significantly higher for the patients with recurrence (22.5 +/- 4.6 ng/ml; 76%) or with metastasis appearance (23.6 +/- 5.4 ng/ml; 77%) than for the patients in remission (less than 1.5 ng/ml; 0%). In the SCC of oesophagus, we report levels before treatment that are significantly higher for the patients with metastasis at the first attempt (4.2 +/- 5.1 ng/ml; 59%), and an elevated SCC level at the diagnosis evoked a SCC of lung already disseminated (8.8 +/- 12.1 ng/ml; 50%) that will fail to respond to treatment (4.0 +/- 4.2 ng/ml; 48%).

Adult↗

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA abnormalities in colorectal carcinomas.

We report a flow cytometric study on ploidy in 117 colorectal cancers. An aneuploid cell population was found in more than 70% of adenocarcinomas. Ploidy was found to be stage-related; aneuploid tumors with DNA index greater than or equal to 1.4 were found mainly in Dukes' C and Dukes' D stages (P less than 0.02). Tumors of the caecum and of the ascending colon were more often found to be diploid than those of the other sites. There was a progressive increase in the proportion of cells in S-phase depending on whether they were from normal tissue, inflammatory mucosa or adenocarcinomas. The proportion of cells in S-phase was significantly larger in aneuploid tumors (P less than 0.001). The data presented above suggest that aneuploidy and the proportion of non-resting cells could be important prognostic factors for colorectal cancers. The latter are independent of the stage of the disease and histological differentiation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The usefulness of prostate-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase in clinical practice.

A comparative study was performed on the usefulness of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) in control subjects (69), benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) patients (150), and patients with prostatic carcinoma (113) in a urology department. We establish, as others, the greater clinical sensitivity of PSA and its effectiveness as a prognostic tool in the evaluation of prostatic cancer therapy and in the early detection of residual tumor following radical prostatectomy. However, patients are admitted to our department with more severe and complicated benign prostatic pathology and urinary dysfunctions, which decreases the specificity of the PSA test to 30% (N = 2.7 ng/ml). A cutoff threshold of 50 ng/ml becomes necessary to maintain a 90% positive predictive value. The combination of PSA sensitivity (96%) and PAP specificity (95%) enabled a better definition of the high-risk subpopulation among noncancer patients and, in addition, was a help for differential diagnosis, confirmation of advanced stages of prostatic cancer, and selection of low-stage prostatic cancer candidates undergoing radical prostatectomy. Routine serum PSA measurements in the population of patients consulting a urology department will no doubt bring about a new approach to the management of prostate cancer.

Acid Phosphatase↗

[What value should be given to assays of serum ferritin in breast cancers? Correlation with various biological parameters].

The aim of this study is to determine the value of serum ferritin assay alone or combined with CEA and beta-2-M. For the diagnosis of breast cancer, serum ferritin is of little value, with 23% false positive and 41% false negative results. Furthermore, combination with CEA and beta-2-M assays does not improve the diagnosis of malignancy. However, mean ferritin concentrations and percentage of positive results increase with tumor volume, number of involved lymph nodes, distant metastases, and exacerbations. During follow up, variations in serum ferritin concentrations parallel clinical course in 77% of patients, as compared to 62% for the three proteins. Ferritin can be involved in biological exchange processes. Association with hepatic, hematological or inflammatory disorders must therefore be considered in interpreting an increase in serum ferritin in cancer patients.

Adult↗

Comparative flow DNA analysis of different cell suspensions in breast carcinoma.

This study compared three methods of dissociation of breast lesions for DNA flow cytometry. Eleven benign lesions and 66 cancers were dissociated using mechanical, Ficoll, or enzymatic methods. DNA flow analysis showed that the DNA index did not vary from one method of dissociation to another. All benign lesions were diploid and 67% of all cancers were aneuploid. Enzymatic dissociation gave a lower percentage of aneuploid cells with a diminution of the proportion of cells in the G2 + M phase (13.2% enzymatic against 17.6% Fi-coll); on the other hand, it provided cell populations of greater viability than the other methods (32.6% enzymatic, 17.2% Fi-coll; P less than 0.01). The mechanical and Ficoll suspensions did not differ significantly when they were analyzed on the basis of their DNA content and their cellular viability. When compared with mechanical preparation, Ficoll suspension showed a lower recovery of tumor cells, but this inconvenience was compensated for by a more homogeneous aspect where the contribution of aggregates and debris was clearly lessened. Therefore, this study led us to choose Ficoll suspension for subsequent flow analysis of breast tumors.

Adult↗

[beta2-Microglobulin in cancer patients (author's transl)].

Cancerembryonic antigen (CEA) and beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) have been measured in cancer patients and patients with benign diseases. Of 168 patients with intestinal cancer, almost 90% had increasing concentrations of either CEA or beta2m or both. In 29 patients at different stages of pancreatic cancer there was a high incidence of increased values in the more severe cases. In 60 patients with histologically classified colorectal cancer the TNomegaMomega group of 19 patients had 47% and 42% of elevated beta2m and CEA respectively. A significant correlation of beta2m or CEA to extension of disease was noted. In benign intestinal disease like cirrhosis and pancreatitis both beta2m and CEA is commonly elevated. Of 26 breast cancer patients, seven had elevated CEA and five had elevated beta2m values before treatment. In the patients with extraganglionary metastasis almost 90% had high beta2m or CEA or both. Of 40 patients with uterine cancer, 26 were found to have increased values of beta2m or CEA or both. Finally, 140 colorectal cancer patients, 62 patients with breast cancer and 10 patients with uterine cancer have been followed longitudinally.

Beta-Globulins↗