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M Giai

Publications and source records attributed to M Giai.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Distribution of Ha-RAS-1 proto-oncogene alleles in breast cancer patients and in a control population.

The frequencies of 13 different Ha-ras proto-oncogene alleles have been estimated in 92 breast cancer patients and 60 unaffected individuals. The Ha-ras alleles can be identified using a DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) closely linked to the 3' end of the gene, and are characterized by a different length due to a region of sequences repeated a variable number of times (variable tandem repeats, VTR). The statistical analysis of the data obtained shows that the frequency of alleles ranging between specific length limits is significantly higher in breast cancer patients than in controls. The same applies to specific genotypes bearing the aforementioned alleles. This suggests that the inheritance of these alleles may be associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Measurement of a breast cancer associated antigen detected by monoclonal antibody SP-2 in sera of cancer patients.

An enzyme-linked immuno-absorbent assay has been developed for the detection of a circulating tumor-associated antigen, 90K, recognized by murine monoclonal antibody SP-2 (Iacobelli et al., Cancer Res 46: 3005-3010, 1986). This assay was found to be simple and reproducible. Using this method, 6% of 165 apparently healthy individuals and 15% of 91 patients with benign breast disease showed 90K levels above 1.7 units/ml. Approximately 50% of 129 patients with advanced breast cancer demonstrated serum antigen levels above 1.7 units/ml. All histological types of breast cancer were positive, and no association between the incidence of elevated 90K levels and other prognostic variables could be detected. The titers of 90K were significantly higher in sera from advanced-stage (3 and 4) patients than in those from patients with limited-stage (1 and 2) disease. Elevated 90K levels were also observed in patients with carcinomas of other sites, including gastrointestinal, gynecological, and lung tumors. By means of the immune blotting technique, the antigenic components carrying the determinants in serum and extracts of breast cancer cells have been identified. The levels of 90K did not correlate with those of CA 15-3 or CEA. The measurement of 90K in sera appears to be a useful adjunct to other available assays for the detection and monitoring of breast cancer and other malignant tumors.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sentinel lymph node and breast cancer staging: final results of the Turin Multicenter Study.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Validation of the sentinel node (SN) technique in breast cancer by means of lymphoscintigraphy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 1996 to January 1999 102 T1-T2 breast carcinoma cases were recruited in Turin. 99mTc-human serum albumin colloids were injected subdermally the day before surgery (mean activity, 5.2 +/- 2.5 MBq). Scintigraphic imaging was performed after injection. After identification of the SN during surgery by a hand-held gamma probe, the SN was excised and sent for histologic examination. SN histology was compared with that of other axillary nodes. RESULTS: The SN detection rate was 86.3%; among 88 cases with an identified SN, 37 (42%) had axillary metastases; the SN was metastatic in 35 cases (sensitivity, 94.6%); in 51.3% of pN+ cases (19/37) the SN was the only metastatic site. In two of the 53 negative SNs, SN histology did not match with that of the remaining axilla (negative predictive value, 96.2%; staging accuracy, 97.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results agree with those reported in the literature; however, except in clinical trials and experienced structures axillary lymph node dissection should not be abandoned when mandatory for prognostic purposes, considering that at present SN biopsy alone is not completely accurate for axillary staging, especially in the absence of an adequate learning period.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic significance of CA 125 and TPS levels after chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients.

The analysis of survival data of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer proved that both CA 125 and TPS were good markers for clinical outcome prediction. Patients receiving chemotherapy were analyzed for 2-year overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed highly significant differences in OS between patients with stage I+II (survival for 2 years 68%) and stage III+IV (survival for 2 years 33%; p = 0.0008). CA 125 levels above or below 35 kU/I and TPS levels above or below 80 U/l after 3 chemotherapy courses were not significantly correlated with OS in stage I+II patients (p = 0.06 respectively 0.07). However, in the subgroup of patients with stage III+IV the cut-off levels of CA 125 and TPS were excellent discriminators of OS: With CA 125 levels below the cut-off 52% of the patients survived, while with CA 125 levels above the cut-off only 13% survived (p < 0.0001). With TPS levels below the cut-off 49% of the patients survived, while with levels above the cut-off only 19% of the patients survived (p < 0.0001). In the subset of patients with CA 125 levels less than 35 kU/I after 3 chemotherapy courses (n = 50) analysis of their TPS levels allowed further discrimination of the prognostic significance. With TPS levels below the cut-off 63% of the patients survived, while 35% of the patients survived with TPS levels above the cut-off. The sum value of CA 125 and TPS cut-off values (115) as discriminator correlated even better with survival rate: With levels below this sum value 63% of the patients survived, while this was only 17% with sum values above the summed cut-off level (p = 0.0004). The extent to which the tumor was removed at operation also correlated with the 2 years survival rate. None of the patients with a staging laparotomy (n = 10) showed a 2-years survival. The difference in OS between patients with complete debulking and partial debulking was significant: OS 51% versus 23% (p = 0.027). Prognosis was not significantly correlated with histological type.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum levels of CA 125 and TPS during treatment of ovarian cancer.

Two hundred and sixty ovarian cancer patients (including all FIGO stages) were enrolled in a prospective multicentre study. In this interim study we analyzed 206 patients receiving combined chemotherapy for at least 3 courses for two-year overall survival (OS). CA 125 and TPS were applied for monitoring treatment and the relationship between marker levels, marker changes and clinical assessments was established. Preoperative CA 125 or TPS levels were not correlated with OS in FIGO stage I and II patients. After 3 chemotherapy courses the marker levels were not correlated with OS in stage I and II. Partial debulking in stage II patients was a bad prognostic factor. CA 125 or TPS levels (using a CA 125 discrimination level of 25 kU/l and a TPS discrimination level of 100 U/l) after 3 courses of chemotherapy were highly significantly correlated with OS in FIGO stages III and IV patients: CA 125 two-year OS 67% versus 26% (p < 0.0001) and TPS two-year OS 55% versus 22% (p < 0.0001). The prognostic value of CA 125 levels after 3 chemotherapy courses could be further increased by combining CA 125 and TPS levels. When both CA 125 and TPS levels were below their respective discrimination levels, the two-year overall survival was 75%. When both levels were above the discrimination level, the two-year overall survival was only 17%.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bone marrow micrometastases detected by a monoclonal antibody in patients with breast cancer.

One major problem in primary breast cancer is the identification of new parameters able to select patients at high risk of recurrence. Our study was aimed at detecting mammary tumor cells in the bone marrow of breast cancer patients using a single bone marrow sampling and the monoclonal antibody AB/3. This antibody recognizes a membrane carbohydrate epitope present in human breast cancer cells but not in normal tissues. Only 2 out of 45 breast cancer patients were found to have a bone marrow positive AB/3 staining reaction. Our data confirm and extend previous reports that single bone marrow sampling coupled with immunocytochemistry is not sensitive enough to be used as a routine procedure to acquire prognostic information in breast cancer.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗