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X Filella

Publications and source records attributed to X Filella.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA) in tissue and serum of patients with breast cancer: clinical applications in prognosis and disease monitoring.

Mucin-like Carcinoma-associated Antigen (MCA) has been associated with many breast cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate MCA in tumor tissue and serum as a potential tumor marker for prognosis and disease monitoring. MCA levels were determined in the tissue of 196 patients with primary breast cancer, 25 with metastatic disease and 25 patients with benign diseases, in pellet and/or cytosol. MCA levels were also determined in the serum of 50 patients with benign diseases, 148 with primary breast cancer (Mo), 150 with metastatic breast cancer (MT), and 200 with no clinical evidence of disease (NED). MCA tissue concentrations in pellet and cytosol were similar: 66.7 + 251 U/mg and 41.1 + 53 U/mg, respectively. No relationship between MCA levels and tumor size or nodal involvement was found. Higher MCA levels were observed in patients with ER+ or PgR+ tumors than in those with ER- or PgR- tumors (p < 0.01). Patients with MCA pellet concentrations lower than 10 U/mg of protein had shorter disease-free intervals (DFI) than those with higher values (p < 0.05). Abnormally high serum levels of MCA were found in 8% of patients with benign diseases, 4% of NED patients, 22% of Mo patients, and in 76% of MT cases. In primary breast cancer MCA values were related to tumor size and nodal involvement. A trend toward a lower DFI in patients with elevated presurgical MCA levels was observed but was of no statistical significance. These differences became statistically significant when patients were subdivided according to nodal status, with shorter DFI in those without nodal invasion (p < 0.05). In metastatic patients, changes in serum MCA were related to the tumor's response to treatment in 82% of cases. The highest MCA values were found in patients with liver or bone metastasis and the lowest values were found in those with locoregional recurrence. In conclusion, although MCA is not a specific tumor marker, it can be useful as a prognostic factor (tissue and serum) and in monitoring metastatic patients.

Adenofibroma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CYFRA 21-1 in lung cancer: comparison with CEA, CA 125, SCC and NSE serum levels.

CYFRA 21-1, CEA, CA 125, SCC and NSE serum levels were determined in 50 healthy subjects and in 189 patients with primary lung cancer (101 with locoregional disease, 68 with recurrence and 20 patients with no evidence of residual disease (NED). Abnormal CYFRA 21-1 serum levels were found in 53.6% (90/168) of the patients with active cancer. Neither healthy subjects nor NED patients had abnormal serum levels. CYFR alpha 21-1 serum concentrations were significantly higher in patients with active cancer than in healthy subjects or in NED patients (p < 0.0001). CYFRA 21-1 sensitivity was related to tumor histology with abnormal levels in 64.7% of patients with NSCLC and in 30% of patients with SCLC (P < 0.0001). In NSCLC, serum CYFRA 21-1 concentrations were also related to histological type, the highest values being found in squamous cell carcinomas and LCLC and the lowest in adenocarcinomas (p < 0.04). There was also a clear relationship between CYFRA 21-1 and tumor extension, with significantly higher values in patients with metastases than in those without metastases (p < 0.0001). Abnormal CEA values were found in 49.1%, CA 125 in 39%, SCC in 27.8% and NSE in 21.3% of the patients with active cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CA 125 in biological fluids.

CA 125 is not a specific tumor marker, and is synthesized by normal and malignant cells of different origin (mainly in tissues derived from the müllerian epithelia) in a similar proportion. Abnormal CA 125 levels may be found in fluids of different origin (ascites, pleura, pericardium, amniotic fluid, cyst fluid, bronchoalveolar fluid, etc.) and in serum from patients with these fluids. Differences in serum CA 125 found in malignant or benign diseases may be related to the number of cells that synthesize the marker, and are highly dependent on the access to serum, where the marker is normally determined. Moreover, CA 125 is a very good tumor marker in ovarian and lung cancer. The sensitivity of CA 125 in ovarian cancer is related to stage (40-95%), histological type (lower levels in mucinous adenocarcinoma), and the marker is useful in the early detection of recurrence (sensitivity 80%) and in therapy monitoring. It's sensitivity in lung cancer is lower than in ovarian cancer, 39% in locoregional malignancies and 69% in metastatic disease, but clearly related to stage and histology (mainly in adenocarcinomas and large cell lung cancer) and it is useful in prognosis and disease monitoring.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

C-erbB-2, CEA and CA 15.3 serum levels in the early diagnosis of recurrence of breast cancer patients.

UNLABELLED: C-erbB-2, CEA and CA 15.3 serial serum determinations were performed in 250 patients (follow-up: 1-4 years, mean 2.5 years) with primary breast cancer and no evidence of residual disease (NED) after radical treatment (radical mastectomy or simple mastectomy and radiotherapy). Ninety-five patients developed metastases during follow-up. RESULTS: Abnormal c-erbB-2, CEA and CA 15.3 serum levels (> 20 U/ml, > 10 ng/ml or > 60 U/ml, respectively) prior to diagnosis were found in 28.4%, 31.6% and 46.3% of the 95 patients with recurrence, with a lead time of 4.2 +/- 2.4, 5.0 +/- 2.5 and 4.6 +/- 2.7 months, respectively. One of the tumor markers was the first sign of recurrence in 69.5% of the patients. Tumor marker specificity was 100% with levels lower than the cut-point in all 155 patients without recurrence. Tumor marker sensitivity was clearly related to the site of recurrence, with the lowest sensitivity found in locoregional relapse and the highest in patients with liver or bone metastases. C-erbB-2 sensitivity in early diagnosis was significantly higher in patients with c-erbB-2 overexpression in tissue (10/12, 83.3%) than in those without overexpression (1/34, 2.9%) (p = 0.0001). Likewise, higher levels of both, c-erbB-2 and CA 15.3 at diagnosis of recurrence, higher sensitivity in early diagnosis of relapse and a higher lead time were found in PgR+ patients (CA 15.3) or in PgR- patients (C-erbB-2) (p < 0.015). In conclusion, tumor markers are useful tools for the early diagnosis of metastases, being the first sign of recurrence in 69.5% of patients with relapse (76.3% in patients with metastases).

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Carcinoembryonic antigen in tissue and serum from breast cancer patients relationship with steroid receptors and clinical applications in the prognosis and early diagnosis of relapse.

From July 1982 to August 1994, CEA levels were determined in 298 mammary tissue samples (30 benign, 242 primary breast cancer and 26 metastatic breast cancer). CEA serum levels were also evaluated in 30 patients with benign diseases, 153 patients with primary breast cancer and 26 patients with metastases. CEA tissue levels in both pellet and cytosol were significantly higher in samples from cancerous than from non malignant tissues (p < 0.0001), and higher in the pellet than in the cytosol (p < 0.0001). CEA in the pellet and cytosol were related to steroid receptors, with the highest levels being observed in ER+/PR+ tumors (p < 0.001). They were, however, not related to other pathological parameters such as tumor size or nodes. There was a correlation between CEA pellet and CEA serum in both patients with primary or metastatic tumors, with significantly higher CEA serum levels in patients with CEA pellet positivity than in those with CEA pellet negativity. CEA serum levels were a prognostic factor (DFS and OS) in the whole group as well as in node-positive and node-negative breast cancer patients. This prognostic value was only found in patients with CEA pellet positivity. In the follow-up of 143 NED patients, abnormal CEA serum levels rose prior to the diagnosis of relapse in 73% (29/40) of CEA pellet+ patients with distant recurrences but in only 9% (2/22) of CEA pellet- cases (p < 0.0001). In summary, CEA evaluation in tissue improves the CEA clinical application, selecting those patients whose serum CEA will be useful in the prognosis and early diagnosis of recurrence.

Breast↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multicenter evaluation of the Elecsys CA 125 II assay.

The technical performance and clinical usefulness of the newly developed Elecsys CA 125 II assay (Boehringer Mannheim) was evaluated in a multicenter study. Imprecision studies were carried out using control sera and human pool sera with CA 125 concentrations from 11 to 1026 U/ml. Within-run CVs between 0.7 to 4.8% (median 1.7%) and between-day CVs between 2.4 to 10.9% (median 5.7%) were found. Method comparison studies with Enzymun-Test CA 125 II carried out in four laboratories yielded slopes between 0.94 to 1.07 and intercepts < 3 U/ml. A good comparability of the Elecsys CA 125 II assay was also found with one MEIA and the Centocor" IRMA. For a second MEIA and a second IRMA the slopes were 1.23 and 1.42, and the corresponding correlation coefficients were 0.987 and 0.977, respectively. The Elecys CA 125 II concentrations are clearly related to the tumor stage of ovarian carcinoma patients. The maximum of diagnostic efficiency of ovarian carcinoma patients compared with patients of benign gynecological diseases is reached at 150 U/ml with a specificity of 93% and a sensitivity of 69%. Follow-up studies of ovarian carcinoma patients reflect the status of the disease and the effect of various therapeutic applications. The technical and clinical evaluation of the Elecsys CA 125 II assay show a superior analytical performance with a broad measuring range up to 5000 U/ml and a short measuring time of 18 minutes.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bcl-2 oncogene (B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2) levels correlate with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity.

OBJECTIVE: Bcl-2 translocation or overexpression is found in many types of malignancy, possibly through alteration of the apoptosis mechanism. It has also been suggested that similar apoptotic alterations may be important in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is believed that a process of apoptosis at the stage of maturation or differentiation of lymphocytes may be related to the beginning of an autoimmune event, due to the non-elimination of autoreactive lymphocytes. The aim of this study is to test bcl-2 antigen expression in human SLE peripheral blood and to analyze its relationship with disease activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum levels of bcl-2 were studied by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in whole blood samples in 68 patients with SLE and its correlation with disease activity according to SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). RESULTS: No significant differences were found in bcl-2 levels between all SLE patients and controls. We observed increased levels of bcl-2 in active SLE patients in relation to inactive (p = 0.0003) and controls (p = 0.02). Our results show a significant correlation between bcl-2 levels and SLEDAI values (R = 0.46, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that bcl-2 levels are related to disease activity and that this protein may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Usefulness of urinary nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) as a marker for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate an immunoassay for urinary nuclear matrix protein, NMP22, as a novel marker for urothelial cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: NMP22 values were determined for 71 patients and 21 healthy volunteers. Each subject provided a single (3 voids) urine sample for analysis at the time of entry into the study. Each sample was assayed for levels of NMP22. RESULTS: When the cut-off value was set at 10 U/ml, the positive rate for urinary NMP22 in bladder cancer was 37.8% (17 out of 45), whereas that in post-treatment cases and benign diseases was 30.8% (8 out of 26) compared to 14.3% (3 out of 21) for healthy volunteers. This cut-off value provided a sensitivity of 37.8% and a specificity of 80.9%. In the bladder cancer group, NMP22 levels were related to tumor size, shape, grade and stage. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the many reports that suggest NMP22 as a promising urinary marker for monitoring transitional cell carcinoma, this study does not support its usefulness as a substitute tool for urinary cytology in the control of bladder tumors.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Technical performance of the Elecsys CA 72-4 test--development and field study.

Tumor-associated glycoprotein (TAG) 72 is a mucin-like protein of high molecular weight (220-400 kd). Elevated serum levels of TAG72 are preferentially observed in patients suffering from gastric cancer. Additionally the determination of TAG72 may be a helpful tool in the management of patients suffering from mucinous ovarian cancer, in whom the clinical sensitivity of CA125 is low. The new Elecsys CA72-4 assay-available as Elecsys 2010 and 1010--was evaluated in a first field study. The test has a wide measuring range (300 U/ml) and low detection limit (0.5 U/ml) which favours its routine use. Typical precision values are 2% for intra-assay, 4% for inter-assay and 6% for inter-instrument-precision. Method comparisons to Enzymun-Test CA72-4 showed a correlation between 0.91 and 0.96. The correlation to a commercially available RIA was 0.8. With human ascites material no Hook-effect was observed up to 20,000 U/ml. No Hama-interference with clinically relevant HAMA-samples was detected.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: correlation with clinical and immunological features.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the circulating levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), as well as to investigate their association with clinical and immunological manifestations. METHODS: We included 62 consecutive patients (58 women and 4 men) seen in our Unit. All patients fulfilled 4 or more of the European diagnostic criteria for SS. Serum levels of IL-6 (pg/mL), IL-2 (pg/mL), srIL-2 (pM), TNFalpha (pg/mL) and IL-10 (pg/mL) were determined using a solid phase enzyme immunoassav performed on microtiter plate. RESULTS: When compared with the control group, high levels of Th1 (11-2, srIL-2) and Th2 (IL-6, IL-10) cytokines were detected in SS patients, although only IL-6 levels reached statistical significance. On the other hand, analysis of the mean serum concentrations of cytokines showed distinct patterns of elevated cytokines according to the organ involved, and elevated levels of IL-6 (126.5 v 20.6 pg/mL, p < 0.05) and IL-10 (10.6 v 2.2 pg/mL, p < 0.005) were observed in those patients with liver involvement. Analysis of the cytokine levels according to the presence of immunological features showed: higher levels of srIL-2 (95.6 v 54.0 pM, p < 0.05) in patients with anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies; increased levels of srIL-2 (111.4 v 59.4 pM, p < 0.05) in patients with antiLa/SS-B antibodies; higher levels of srIL-2 (90.4 vs 50.8 pM, p < 0.05) and TNFalpha (37.9 v 22.6 pg/mL, p = 0.001) in patients with RF and higher levels of IL-6 (88.0 v 23.1 pg/mL, p < 0.05) in patients with cryoglobulins and in those with hypocomplementemia (130.3 vs 21.0 pg/mL, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We found a significant elevation of several circulating cytokines in some clinical and immunological subsets of patients with primary SS. These cytokine patterns may be markers for specific extraglandular involvement in SS and could be of interest in assessing the response to treatment protocols or in monitoring the disease evolution.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship of oncogenes (sFas, Bcl-2) and cytokines (IL-10, alfa-TNF) with the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Different oncogenes (Fas and bcl-2) and diverse cytokines (IL-10 and alfa-TNF) may have an effect on the regulation of apoptosis. The majority of studies to date have evaluated only one or two of these elements independently and it is difficult to obtain a global view of apoptosis disregulation in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their role in disease activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of sFas, bcl-2, IL-10 and alfa-TNF in human SLE patients and to analyze their relationship with disease activity and with regulation of the apoptotic process. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum levels of sFas and cytokines IL-10 and alfa-TNF were studied by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. Bcl-2 antigen expression was analyzed in lysated lymphocytes from 51 SLE patients. The disease activity was analyzed according to the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). RESULTS: SLE patients had higher levels of sFas (p=0.0006) and alfa-TNF (p<0.0001) than the control group. No relationship was found between the levels of bcl-2 and IL-10 from SLE patients and the control group. However, there was a significant correlation between SLEDAI and bcl-2 (p<0.001) and IL-10 levels (p=0.004). In contrast, we found that sFas and alfa-TNF were not related with disease activity. A significant correlation of sFas with alfa-TNF serum levels (p=0.003, R= +0.41) and bcl-2 antigen expression (p=0.02, R=+0.32) was observed. CONCLUSION: sFas and alfa-TNF serum levels are increased in SLE patients. sFas levels seems to be secondary to alfa-TNF action, which is enhanced in inflammatory conditions such as SLE. Bcl-2 antigen expression and IL-10 serum levels are related to the maintenance of SLE activity. These alterations may interfere with the apoptotic process, promoting lymphocyte hyperactivity secondary to increased cytokine levels, and causing the characteristic features of SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Free to complexed PSA ratio in differentiating benign prostate hyperplasia from prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: The description of the different forms of circulating PSA has opened a new strategy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic potential of PSA and the PSA fractions in the diagnosis of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We measured the serum levels of PSA (Elecsys 2010, Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), complexed PSA (Immuno 1 system, Bayer, Tarrytown, NY USA) and free PSA (Elecsys 2010, Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) in 178 patients with BPH and 44 patients with prostate cancer. RESULTS: ROC curves were used for comparison of the diagnostic utility of the tests assessed. The biggest areas under the curve were obtained for the ratios between free/complexed PSA and free/total PSA (0.887 and 0.872, respectively). When choosing the cut-off values to obtain a 90% sensibility, we found that the specificity for the free/total PSA ratio was 59% and for the free/complexed PSA ratio 72%. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that replacement of the measurement of total PSA by complexed PSA in prostate cancer diagnosis may be interesting. Nevertheless, as this is a retrospective study limited to a small number of patients, it is obvious that we need more data to make a final decision with regard to this subject.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMedDate not supplied

BTA TRAK urine test increases the efficacy of cytology in the diagnosis of low-grade transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

BACKGROUND: Among urinary tumor markers we studied the utility of the BTA TRAK assay to diagnose transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in highly suspiscious patients, in comparison to urine cytology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A preliminary study of 65 patients was made (21 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), 36 without TCC and 8 excluded patients who received BCG therapy, endocavitary mytomicin or radiotherapy), using the BTA TRAK, cytology and cystoscopy. RESULTS: 12 out of the 21 selected patients were pTa (9 G1and 3 G2), 2 carcinoma in situ (CIS), 2pT1 (1 G2 and 1 G3) and 5 muscle invasive tumors (all of them G3). Setting our cut-off at 18 U/ml, a sensitivity of 52.3% and a specificity of 88.9% was reached. BTA TRAK detected 11 out of 21 of the tumors as well as urine cytology. However, BTA TRAK was more sensitive in the detection of low grade tumors (p<0.05). When considering both tests as complementary, a combined sensitivity of 80.9% and specificity of 88.5% were obtained. CONCLUSION: BTA TRAK is a valid test for the diagnosis of TCC of the bladder, which is not superior to urine cytology but complementary. More extensive prospective studies are required to validate this application and others of the BTA TRAK assay used either alone or in combination with urinary cytology in the management of bladder cancerpatients.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective evaluation of CEA and CA 15.3 in patients with locoregional breast cancer.

The tumor markers, CEA and CA 15.3, were prospectively studied in the sera of 1057 untreated patients with locoregional breast cancer diagnosed from 1983 to 2001. Abnormal CEA and CA 15.3 serum levels were found in 13% and 18.8% of the patients, respectively. One tumor marker or another was abnormal in 22.8% of the patients. Both tumor markers were correlated with tumor size and nodal involvement, with significantly higher concentrations in patients with larger tumors or in patients with nodal involvement. CEA was also related to the histological type and CA 15.3 with the histological grade. Univariate prognostic evaluation showed that tumor size, nodal involvement, histological grade, steroid receptors, adjuvant treatment, CEA, CA 15.3 and treatment before surgery were prognostic factors in both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Similar results were obtained in node-positive patients, with the same factors being prognostic, excluding adjuvant treatment and CA 15.3, in both DFS and OS. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, nodal involvement, histological grade, ER and CEA were independent prognostic factors in both DFS and OS in the whole group as well as in node-positive patients. In contrast, tumor size was the only useful parameter in the prognosis of node-negative patients. CA 15.3 was useful for prognosis (OS) in node-negative patients. In summary, tumor markers are useful tools in the prognostic evaluation of patients with breast cancer.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective evaluation of tumor markers (c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, CEA and CA 15.3) in patients with locoregional breast cancer.

Tumor markers were prospectively (CEA and CA 15.3) or retrospectively (c-erbB-2) studied in the sera of 503 untreated patients with breast cancer diagnosed from 1988 to 2001. Abnormal c-erbB-2 levels (> 15 U/ml) were found in 7%, CEA in 12% and CA 15.3 in 13% of the 503 patients. C-erbB-2 serum levels were only related to c-erbB-2 in tissue, with significantly higher concentrations in patients with positivity in tissue. All the tumor markers (c-erbB-2 only in patients with positivity in tissue) were correlated with tumor size, TNM and nodal involvement. CEA was also related to menopausal status, c-erbB-2 overexpression in tissue and ER. Univariate analysis (mean follow-up 8 years) showed that CEA and CA 15.3 were prognostic factors with significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with pretreatment tumor marker positivity. Multivariate analysis in DFS and in OS showed that nodal involvement CEA and ER but not tumor size, menopausal status, histological grade, histology, CA 15.3, c-erbB-2, PgR, adjuvant treatment, p53 (345 patients) or c-erbB-2 in tissue are independent prognostic factors. In summary, tumor markers are a useful, inexpensive and reproducible tool for prognosis in breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

S-100beta and MIA in advanced melanoma in relation to prognostic factors.

We compared the sensitivity and specificity of S-100 and MIA in advanced melanoma, in 96 patients with no evidence of disease (NED) and 86 patients with metastatic melanoma. Abnormal S100 (>0.2 microg/l) and MIA (>14 ng/ml) results were found in 1.1% and 3.2% of NED patients and in 59.3% and 54.6% of the patients with active melanoma (p<0.001). Using both tumor markers simultaneously, the sensitivity increased up to 69.8% with the same specificity 96.8%. S100 serum levels were not related to growth patterns. By contrast, MIA levels seemed to be related to the growth pattern, with higher levels in nodular melanoma (60.6+/-87.1 ng/ml) compared with acral-lentigous melanoma (11.9+/-5.4 ng/ml) (p=0.02). Likewise, S100 was related to the metastases site with significantly higher sensitivity and mean concentrations in patients with brain metastases (p=0.01) with the lowest in those with lung MI. MIA was related to the same metastases locations but without statistical significance. In summary, both S100 and ML4 are useful markers related to prognostic factors, being more effective when used in combination.

Adult↗