As reported earlier, p53 antibodies are detected in the sera of patients with different types of cancer, including lung cancer. In contrast, in the serum of healthy subjects the presence of anti-p53 antibodies is extremely rare. We collected the venous blood samples of 109 patients affected with lung cancer (LC): 57 patients (46 M, 11 F) with non-small-cell carcinoma (NSCLC), 52 others (40 M, 12 F) with small-cell carcinoma (SCLC). Serum p53 antibodies were assayed using ELISA method and all positive sera were confirmed by Western-blot method. In addition, using IRMA methods we assayed serum CEA, TPA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE. Serum p53Ab are detectable (p53Ab-positive) in 35/109 (32.1%) patients with lung cancer. About 17/57 (29.8%) patients affected with NSCLC and 18/52 (34.6%) with SCLC were p53Ab-positive. CEA, TPA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE sensitivity in LC patients (NSCLC+SCLC) is 50.5%, 58.7%, 42.2%, 35.8%, respectively. The lower sensitivity (32.1%) of serum p53Ab is connected with the higher specificity and diagnostic accuracy (100% and 69%, respectively). Out of 35 patients p53Ab-positive, five (14.3%) exhibit only serum p53Ab, while serum values of the established tumor markers were lower than cut-off. Serum p53Ab assessment is a simple and a low-cost assay with a good specificity and diagnostic accuracy that in LC patients can be used at least in association with established tumor markers.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum-soluble E-cadherin fragments in lung cancer.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: E-cadherin, also known as uvomorulin or cell-CAM 120/80, is one of the subclasses of cadherins, CA(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecules. Several recent studies have suggested that loss of E-cadherin may be associated with tumor progression, such as in lung, gastric, hepatocellular, breast and prostatic carcinoma. Assessment of E-cadherin serum levels in lung cancer showed a relation to histologic type. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Using an enzyme immunoassay, we determined E-cadherin serum levels in 79 patients affected with lung cancer (stage I-IV), 9 patients with breast cancer, 23 patients with different benign diseases, and 20 healthy patients. RESULTS: At a specificity level of 90%, E-cadherin diagnostic sensitivity was 66.6%, 47.6% and 43.7% in patients affected with squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results suggest the use of serum E-cadherin as a prospective tumor marker.

Cadherins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum concentration of free T3, free T4 and TSH in healthy children.

OBJECTIVE: It is rare that manufacturers report age-related FT3, FT4 and TSH normal ranges in healthy children. STUDY DESIGN: Using a solid phase time-resolved fluoroimmunometric method, we determined serum FT3, FT4 and TSH in 3,360 healthy children, age 2-16 years, that we grouped into two age ranges (2-7 yr and 9-16 yr). RESULTS: Boys' and girls' mean serum thyroid hormone values substantially overlap in all age groups. In the age range 2-7 yr, FT3, FT4 and TSH values were 0.10-0.67 ng/dl (mean 0.37 ng/dl), range 0.45-2.29 ng/dl (mean 1.18 ng/dl) and 0.10-5.9 microU/ml (mean 2.2 microU/ml), respectively. In the age range 9-16 yr, FT3, FT4 and TSH values were 0.11-0.53 ng/dl (mean 0.35 ng/dl), 0.69-1.69 ng/dl (mean 1.07 ng/dl) and 0.20-6.1 microU/ml (mean 2.3 pU/ml), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results represent a useful set of reference values in children and can help physicians in the management of thyroid diseases.

Adolescent↗