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M Correale

Publications and source records attributed to M Correale.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Prognostic factors in epithelial ovarian cancer.

In the present study the Authors have statistically evaluated the influence of the main prognostic factors in 160 women affected by epithelial ovarian cancer. They were sequentially observed at Oncologic Institute of Bari, Italy from december 1981 to december 1989. The prognostic factors (age, stage, grading, histological type, performance status and residual disease), have been evaluated through an actuarial analysis of survival and compared with those reported by many authors in literature. Our data confirm the relevance, among all, of the grading, the clinical stage and residual disease as traditional parameters. Furthermore it is proposable the use of new prognostic factors such as nuclear ploidy and proliferative activity (S-phase, labeling index).

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Serum levels of TAG 72 and CA 15.3 in patients with gynaecological neoplasms.

In the present report we have evaluated two new serum tumour markers identified by monoclonal antibodies: TAG 72 and CA 15.3 in 62 patients with gynaecological carcinomas, in prevalence ovarian and 36 women with benign gynaecological diseases. Serum levels of both markers were determined using two immunoradiometric assays and the cut-off values were set at 5 U/mL for TAG 72 and at 40 U/mL for CA 15.3. In our study the sensitivity was 57% for TAG 72 and 43% for CA 15.3 with a specificity of 97% and 89% respectively. Even if these two markers show a sensitivity lower than CA 125, these preliminary results seem to suggest the possible role of TAG 72 and CA 15.3 both as confirmatory tests and as adjunctive tests, especially the first for its excellent specificity.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1992

Tumor necrosis factor and soluble interleukin-2 receptor: two immunological biomarkers in female neoplasms.

In this study we have evaluated two new immunological parameters, soluble IL-2 receptor (s IL-2 R) and TNF, in 119 patients with female solid neoplasms (47 ovarian and 72 breast cancer). Our data demonstrate that both these markers have mean serum levels in cancer patients higher than in normal population, particularly in ovarian cases. Also the overall positivities were higher in ovarian (68%) than in breast cancer (51%). Finally we observed no relevant differences according to the status of disease in both groups of cancer patients. These preliminary results could suggest the possible usefulness of an immunological monitoring in cancer patients, above all when an immunotherapy with biological responder modifiers is proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Serum TAG 72 levels in different human carcinomas.

Since December 1988, we have measured the TAG 72 serum levels in 326 patients with different carcinomas, especially breast, gastrointestinal and ovarian, using a RIA kit. With a cut-off value of 5 U/mL, a specificity of 100% in the controls and an overall sensitivity of 22% in the neoplastic patients was obtained, with the highest positivities in ovarian (63%) and gastric (58%) carcinomas. Therefore, TAG 72 can be associated with other tumor markers for these latter neoplasms.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1991

The Krukenberg tumor. A case report.

Krukenberg tumor, a malignant ovarian neoplasm with well defined histological characteristics, is often bilateral and secondary to a tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. We describe the case of a 44 year old woman affected by gastric cancer, who only 10 months after such diagnosis and subsequent total gastrectomy, came to our observation with ascites and bulky peritoneal involvement. During this period the patient achieved only haematochemical dosages of tumoral markers, particularly of TAG-72 which after 180 days rose to pathological values. We remark the importance of a careful clinical control and monitoring of TAG-72 for the follow-up of gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

The role of tumour markers in ovarian cancer.

In the present review, the Authors have evaluated the current status of the utilization of the principle tumor markers for ovarian carcinoma in clinical gynecological practice. The major difficulty in individualizing a single marker is represented by the histological differentiation of the tumor itself. In fact, whereas for the malignant germ cell tumors, useful markers (AFP, B-HCG) are already available, for other histological forms, valid markers have been identified only because of the availability of the monoclonal antibody: CA 125. Even if this marker cannot be proposed for mass screening, it represents a useful instrument for the diagnosis and monitoring of ovarian carcinoma. The serum levels are well correlated with the clinical status of the patient and high concentrations of the marker are strongly indicative of disease progression at the second-look. Numerous other markers such as NB 70K, IAP, PLAP, CA 15-3 and TAG 72, are actually in the clinical evaluation phase, for the most part in association with CA 125.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1990

Ovarian bilateral cystic teratomas: diagnosis and therapy in a young woman.

A case of ovarian bilateral cystic teratomas is described in young women. Difficult problems concerning diagnosis and therapy are deeply analyzed because of the rarity of this case. Bilateral and typical ultrasound aspects appear strongly indicative of an ovarian tumor. A conservative reproduction-preserving procedure was performed, due to the young age of the patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

pS2--a new cytosolic protein recognized by monoclonal antibodies as a marker of hormone sensitivity in breast cancer.

Using a new immunoradiometric assay (ELSA pS2 Cis-France), a total of 200 cytosols obtained from primary breast tumors were examined for pS2 content, which is an estrogen-regulated protein actually studied as a marker of hormone sensitivity and favorable prognostic factor in breast cancer. In our patient group, the median pS2 value corresponding to 5.3 ng/mg of cytosolic proteins was used as cutoff. pS2 content was not related to menopause status, tumor size, or nodal involvement, whereas a positive correlation was found between pS2 and ER/PgR status. Moreover, the association of pS2 with steroid receptors seems to identify subgroups of patients better than ER/PgR alone.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Association of pS2 (TFF1) release with breast tumour proliferative rate: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Although cytosolic expression of the protein pS2 (TFF1) is considered to be a marker of oestrogen receptor (OR) function, there exists some clinical data to suggest an inverse relationship of cytosolic pS2 to tumour proliferation. Although secreted from breast cancer cells, the relationship of pS2 secretion to tumour natural history has been little studied. The mechanisms and kinetics of pS2 release and its relation to tumour cell proliferation were studied in a human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and verified in a preliminary clinical study. Stimulation by stripped serum or oestradiol resulted in parallel increases of proliferation and pS2 release in both time course and dose-response experiments. Direct pharmacological alterations of proliferation were followed by identical changes in pS2 release. The relationship between serum pS2 levels and tumour proliferative activity when analysed as a function of steroid status showed a slope of 0.56 in OR+ vs. 0.19 in OR- tumours. It is concluded that pS2 release from breast cancer cells is associated with their proliferation and measurement of serum pS2 levels might be a good predictor of tumour proliferative state and could permit noninvasive monitoring of this tumour parameter.

Amiloride↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preliminary results of clinical evaluation of the free/total prostate-specific antigen ratio in a multicentric study.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The free/total (F/T) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio is probably the most promising tool proposed to increase the specificity of PSA in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical value of the F/T ratio in 138 patients with benign hyperplasia, 101 with untreated prostate cancer, and 176 apparently healthy men. METHODS: We used a new immunometric assay of free PSA (FPSA-RIACT, CIS Diagnostici, Italy) which has shown good analytical performance; sample handling and storage under routine conditions did not affect the antigen stability. RESULTS: The diagnostic efficiency of the F/T ratio was significantly better than that of total PSA. In patients with total PSA ranging from 4 to 10 ng/ml, at a specificity level of 95% total PSA showed a sensitivity of 7%, whereas the sensitivity of F/T increased to 70%. Using the F/T ratio as a decision tool in association with total PSA and considering all cases candidate to biopsy (total PSA greater than 3.79 ng/ml corresponding to the 95% level), we demonstrated a 35% reduction of total biopsies that would have been required on the basis of total PSA alone. CONCLUSIONS: The determination of the percentage of F/T serum PSA significantly improves the specificity of the marker, particularly in the 4-10 ng/ml dose range where unnecessary prostate biopsies can be reduced.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Are 90K/MAC-2BP serum levels correlated with poor prognosis in HCC patients? Preliminary results.

In this study we assessed the prognostic significance of 90K/MAC-2BP serum levels in a group of 40 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. This glycoprotein is a new, interesting serum marker that reflects the immune reaction of the host against certain viral infections and tumors such as breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most widespread tumors in the world. AFP is currently the most useful marker for HCC, in spite of its poor diagnostic sensitivity. In this study 40 cirrhotic HCC patients were enrolled. The prevalence of viral hepatic infections in this group was 73% for HCV, 8% for HBV, and 8% for both viruses. Thirteen percent of the patients showed non-virus-related liver damage. 90K serum levels were assayed by an ELISA kit and AFP levels by a chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric system. The overall survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, taking into account age, sex, 90K and AFP serum levels. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant influence on overall survival of age below 70 years and 90K serum levels below the cutoff of 14 ng/mL. Serum AFP (< or = 20 ng/mL) had positive prognostic value only when it was associated with 90K levels (p < 0.02, log-rank).

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analytical and clinical evaluation of a new tumor marker in breast cancer: CA 27.29.

Evaluation of a radioimmunoassay for a new tumor marker, named CA 27.29, recently proposed for use in breast cancer patients, is reported in this study. After considering the analytical performance, the clinical study was directed to a control group of 66 apparently healthy subjects (Controls), a group of 25 women with benign breast disease (BBD) and a group of 164 breast cancer patients divided into primary before any treatment (M-), in follow-up with no evidence of disease (NED) and presence of metastases (M+). When compared to CA 15.3, our results showed similar sensitivity of both markers with a slightly lower specificity for CA 27.29. In some cases, however, CA 27.29 elevation appears earlier than CA 15.3 as a sign of metastases. We thus propose their associated use.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Modification of soluble immunological parameters during treatment with interleukin-2.

In the present study we tested numerous soluble immunological parameters (soluble Interleukin 2 receptor, Beta 2 microglobulin, Neopterin, soluble CD8 antigen, gamma Interferon and alpha Tumor Necrosis Factor) in sera obtained from 18 advanced cancer patients during subcutaneous treatment with recombinant Interleukin 2. The treatment cycles consisted of a dose of 9 x 10(6) IU/m2 twice daily for 2 days followed by 1.8 x 10(6) IU/m2 twice daily for 5 days/week during 6 weeks. Even before therapy, neoplastic patients had higher levels of soluble Interleukin 2 receptor than a group of healthy subjects. Moreover, basal soluble CD8 antigen levels showed significant differences (p < 0.01) in patients with different clinical responses (responders and non-responders). During treatment we observed a fast increase (in the first or second week) of all parameters considered; soluble Interleukin 2 receptor and soluble CD8 antigen were the markers that were best related to the course of immunotherapy. In conclusion, monitoring recombinant Interleukin 2 immunotherapy with immunological parameters in serum seems to be of interest. However, more data are necessary to confirm the real value of the single markers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of cytokeratin 19 serum fragments (CYFRA 21-1) in patients with lung cancer: results of a multicenter trial.

Recently, a new immunometric assay (Cyfra 21-1) was developed to measure serum concentrations of a soluble fragment of cytokeratin subunit 19. With this method, supplied by Boehringer Mannheim (EIA Test Cyfra 21-1), an Italian multicenter trial was performed in patients with lung cancer. Cyfra 21-1 serum levels were determined in 568 normal subjects (blood donors), 607 patients with non-malignant diseases (491 respiratory diseases) and 730 patients with malignancies. In the latter group 584 had lung cancer. All these 584 patients had pathologically confirmed disease; 314 were epidermoid tumors, 166 adenocarcinomas, 88 small cell cancers and 16 large cell cancers. In the 568 healthy blood donors the mean Cyfra 21-1 value was 0.91 ng/ml (SD 0.47 ng/ml; range 0.05-2.90 ng/ml). A threshold of 1.9 ng/ml was chosen as the upper limit of normality. High levels of Cyfra 21-1 were observed in patients with chronic hepatitis (positivity rate: 17/51-33.3%) and with pancreatitis (positivity rate 5/16-31.3%). In 114 out of 491 (23.2%) patients with respiratory diseases Cyfra 21-1 showed values greater than 1.9 ng/ml. The overall sensitivity (all stages) of Cyfra 21-1 in lung cancer was 65.6% (383/584). When the histology was considered the highest positivity rates were found in patients with squamous cell tumors (226/314; 72%) followed by adenocarcinomas (105/166; 63%). In patients with SCLC the global sensitivity was 52.3% (46/88). Higher sensitivity of Cyfra 21-1 was observed from stage I to stage IV (53.9% vs 85.7%; Chi square: p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between cytosol TPS, TPA and cell proliferation.

The serological tumor marker tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and the more recently identified tissue-specific polypeptide antigen (TPS) have been reported to be indicators of the proliferation rate of the tumor. In the present investigation we compared the cytosol level of the two markers with the proliferative activity of the tumor measured using the 3H-thymidine labelling index. The preliminary results presented here show that higher TLI is associated with lower cytosol levels of both TPA and TPS. TPA and TPS in the cytosol were significantly associated. These findings are in agreement with the previously demonstrated association between high TPA cytosol levels and better prognosis in breast cancer. Further studies are ongoing in order to: 1. confirm these findings in a larger patient series; 2. investigate any possible prognostic indication provided by TPS; 3. evaluate any possible biological meaning of the negative association between TPA/TPS and TLI in the cytosol of breast cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of GST-mu transferase in breast cancer patients and healthy controls.

The expression of glutathione S-transferase mu was measured by a qualitative immunoenzymatic assay in the blood samples of 108 women (63 breast cancer patients and 45 healthy controls) in order to analyze the relationships of GST-mu phenotype and smoking habits with tumor characteristics of breast cancer patients, such as tumor extension, nodal status, hormone receptor status and DNA content by flow cytometry. GST-mu was expressed in 53/108 (49%) of cases without any significant difference between healthy or neoplastic subjects, smokers or non-smokers, pre or post-menopausal, younger or older subjects. Moreover, the percentages of the GST-mu phenotype did not differ significantly in patients with different ER and PgR tumor status, tumor extension or nodal status. By contrast, aneuploid DNA tumor content was shown to be significantly associated with GST-mu expression (24% and 76% GST-mu positive, respectively, in diploid and aneuploid cases; p < 0.003). The biological meaning of this association remains to be interpreted.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical profile of a new monoclonal antibody-based immunoassay for tissue polypeptide antigen.

Our preliminary evaluation of a new monoclonal antibody-based assay for tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) has shown it to be clinically equivalent to the polyclonal antibody-based assay for TPA. The new assay (TPA-M) employs three monoclonal antibodies to epitopes on cytokeratins 8, 18 and 19. This multicenter, multinational study included 266 patients with newly diagnosed carcinomas of the lung, breast, large bowel and urinary bladder. TPA values from the two assays were compared with three other cytokeratin markers (TPS, CYFRA 21-1 and TPACyk) and with the established reference markers for these malignancies (CEA and NSE for lung, CA 15-3 for breast, CEA and CA 19-9 for colorectal tumors). Analysis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves in lung, colorectal and bladder cancer showed similar sensitivities for the two assays, ranging from 50% to 80% with a specificity of 95%. In breast cancer all the markers studied showed poor sensitivity. However, TPA determination by either method could discriminate advanced stage (stages III and IV) from early stage disease (stages 0 to II). TPA showed similar discriminating ability in bladder cancer. On the basis of the results obtained in our patient series, it seems that of the cytokeratin markers studied, TPA and TPA-M are the most sensitive and offer a wide range of clinical applications.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗