Biomedical subjects

C Szpak

Publications and source records attributed to C Szpak.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

CA 72-4 radioimmunoassay in the diagnosis of malignant effusions. Comparison of various tumor markers.

We evaluated the utility of the CA 72-4, CEA, CA 125, CA 19-9 and CA 15-3 radioimmunoassays for the detection of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) in effusions of malignant vs. benign origin. Fluids were obtained from 51 patients with adenocarcinomas, 27 with non-epithelial malignancies, and 68 with benign disorders. The CA 72-4 radioimmunoassay (cut-off value 8.5 U/ml) detected the TAG-72 antigen in 51% of adenocarcinoma patients' effusions, while only 1 of 68 benign specimens had an elevated TAG-72 level. Similarly, CEA levels above 5 ng/ml were found in 55% of the fluids from patients with adenocarcinoma and 3.2% of effusions from patients with benign disease. CA 19-9 (cut-off value 37 U/ml) exhibited a lower degree of sensitivity, with positive values in 23.5% of the effusions due to adenocarcinomas and in 4.5% of the effusions due to benign disease. At a cut-off value of 29 U/ml, CA 15-3 was positive in 49% of fluids from patients with adenocarcinoma and in 3.0% of the benign fluids. The CA 125 RIA failed to show any specificity using the established cut-off value of 35 U/ml, with approximately 80% of all the effusions giving positive results. The specificity of the assay was increased by using a cut-off value of 3000 U/ml, but with a substantial loss in sensitivity (23.5%). Using a combination of the CA 72-4 and CEA RIAs the sensitivity for malignant effusions was increased to 73.5%. No additional improvement in the overall sensitivity was observed when using the CA 72-4 assay in combination with assays for the other markers, except in the case of 1 effusion. We conclude that the CA 72-4 RIA, possibly in combination with other assays such as CEA, may be useful in distinguishing between adenocarcinomatous and benign effusions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1990

The application of monoclonal antibodies in the cytologic evaluation of tumors.

The focus of this review has been the application of MAbs as adjuncts in the interpretation of cytology specimens. It is evident that most if not all of the MAbs studied thus far are neither completely tumor-specific nor -sensitive; however, when used to address a directed clinical question, they may be "operationally specific." More important, there continues to be no current substitute for the understanding and practice of sound diagnostic cytopathologic principles. Ultimately, the application of MAbs resides in the importance of tumor-associated antigen expression and phenotyping of tumors with therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1989

mRNA expression of transforming growth factor alpha in human breast carcinomas and its activity in effusions of breast cancer patients.

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) mRNA expression was measured by Northern blot analysis in 18 human, primary, infiltrating, ductal breast carcinomas. Expression of a 4.8-kilobase TGF alpha mRNA transcript was detected in nine of 18 tumors. No evidence was observed of any gross amplifications or major rearrangements of the TGF alpha gene in the breast carcinoma specimens. Biologically active and immunoreactive TGF alpha was measured in the pleural effusions or in the ascitic fluids from 37 noncancer and 63 cancer patients. The TGF alpha activity detected ranged from 0.2 to 26 ng/mL in most effusions from both groups. However, 29 of 63 (46%) of the effusions from cancer patients exhibited TGF alpha levels that were 6 ng/mL or higher, whereas only seven of 37 (19%) of those from noncancer patients exceeded this level (P less than .03). In particular, effusions obtained from breast cancer patients showed a significantly higher level of TGF alpha, compared with those from noncancer patients (P less than .001). Effusions from 14 cancer patients also contained elevated levels of two tumor-associated antigens, CEA and/or TAG-72, and within this group, nine also had elevated levels of TGF alpha.

Ascitic Fluid↗

PubMed1987

Uterine leiomyomas with retroperitoneal lymph node involvement.

We have presented a case of benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) involving pelvic lymph nodes found at the time of hysterectomy for uterine leiomyomas. The patient received postoperative adjunctive therapy with methotrexate, actinomycin D, chlorambucil, and irradiation, and has no evidence of disease 11 years later.

Female↗

PubMed1985

Vasography: effect of various agents on vas deferens patency.

Vasography is a common diagnostic procedure utilized in evaluating the male genital tract for causes of azoospermia, for evaluation of persistent perineal pain and seminal vesiculitis, and recently used in the staging of prostate cancer. In order to evaluate the effects of injectable agents on the healthy vas deferens, 7 groups of 10 rats had the left vas deferens injected by vasopuncture with saline, 4 contrast agents, doxycycline and absolute alcohol. The animals were sacrificed 8 weeks later, and were examined for patency of the vas and inflammatory response. Results revealed that vasopuncture did not produce obstruction. Vasography with water-soluble contrast media does entail a low risk of inflammation in the rat, but produces no obstruction. Intra-vas injection of doxycycline, injected by some for treatment of chronic seminal vesiculitis and perineal pain, is not deleterious in the rat model.

Animals↗