RESUMEN
It has been suggested that urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in cancer cells is upregulated by the p185 kD form of the HER-2/neu oncogene. This study was performed to see if the extracellular domain of HER-2/neu, the p105 fraction, which is found in the circulation, has any regulatory influence on uPA in patients with cervical cancer. Levels of uPA and p105 HER-2/neu were determined in blood from age-matched controls and patients with early and advanced cervical cancer. In the patients with cervical cancer, samples were obtained before treatment only. No significant increase in either uPA or HER-2/neu was seen in the patients before their treatment for cervical cancer. Additionally, correlation analysis of circulating uPA and HER-2/neu against each other in both the controls and cervical cancer indicated no relationship except in early stage disease. It appears that circulating uPA and HER-2/neu are not altered in patients with cervical cancer, either early or advanced stages. The upregulation of uPA by HER-2/neu seen in cancer cells in vitro appears to occur in vivo in early stage cervical cancer.
Asunto(s)
Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Proteínas de Neoplasias/sangre , Receptor ErbB-2/fisiología , Activador de Plasminógeno de Tipo Uroquinasa/sangre , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/sangre , Adulto , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Humanos , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Estadificación de Neoplasias , Estructura Terciaria de Proteína , Proto-Oncogenes Mas , Receptor ErbB-2/sangre , Receptor ErbB-2/química , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/enzimología , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/patologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Abdominal pregnancy is a rare obstetric emergency, occurring in 1 in 10,000 pregnancies. CASE: An 18-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 1, presented for evaluation of an abnormal level of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein. Transabdominal ultrasound examination revealed absence of amniotic fluid with limited imaging ability. Transabdominal amnioinfusion was done to better visualize the fetus. A small uterus was seen in the pelvis, and an abdominal pregnancy was identified with the placenta attached anteriorly over the right pelvic sidewalls. After delivery of the fetus, the placenta was left in situ. The patient recovered postoperatively and was doing well a year after the procedure. A 12 x 10-cm mass remains over the right pelvic sidewall without detectable Doppler blood flow. CONCLUSION: State-of-the-art imaging and prenatal diagnostic techniques allowed correct diagnosis, adequate preparation and optimal management of this dangerous condition.