RESUMEN
Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA), CA 15.3 and CA 549 were concurrently assayed in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Overall sensitivity in detecting metastatic breast cancer (201 pts) was CEA 45%, MCA 59%, CA 15.3 71% and CA 549 72% (P < 0.01). Sensitivity increased by only 6% to 8% when two or more antigens were simultaneously considered. An overall sensitivity of correlation with objective response (n = 71) was observed in the range of 53-67% (P = n.s.) in patients with abnormal baseline marker values, and in the range of 42-87% (P < 0.05) in patients with normal baseline values. The combination of two or more markers did not improve sensitivity, but decreased specificity of correlation with objective response. In conclusion, CA 15.3 and CA 549 have individually higher sensitivity in detecting metastatic breast cancer. No clinical advantage was observed for using two or more markers concurrently over CA 15.3 or CA 549 alone in the monitoring of metastatic breast cancer.
Asunto(s)
Biomarcadores de Tumor/sangre , Neoplasias de la Mama/sangre , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Antígenos de Neoplasias/sangre , Antígenos de Carbohidratos Asociados a Tumores/sangre , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Antígeno Carcinoembrionario/sangre , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Estudios Prospectivos , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
Plasma zinc levels were measured in young controls, aged controls, patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and patients with non-Alzheimer type dementia. Zinc levels decreased with age; however, no difference was found between patients with dementia and age-matched controls. Plasma levels of active or inactive thymulin, a nonapeptide produced and released by the thymus gland, were also determined in young controls, aged controls, patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and patients with non-Alzheimer type dementia. Basal levels of active thymulin were decreased in aged controls and in patients with dementia. In vitro reactivation of thymulin after zinc addition to plasma samples was decreased in aged controls. A further impairment of thymulin reactivation was present in patients with dementia. A significant age-dependent decrease in lymphocyte proliferation after mitogen stimulation was found; however, no difference was present between aged controls and patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type. Interleukin-2-induced cell activation and its effect on mitogen-induced proliferation were also measured; once again only an age-associated decrease was found. The endocrine function of the thymus of patients with dementia appears to be more compromised than that from aged controls.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento/inmunología , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/inmunología , Hormonas del Timo/sangre , Zinc/sangre , Adulto , Anciano , Humanos , Interleucina-2/farmacología , Activación de Linfocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Fitohemaglutininas/farmacologíaRESUMEN
CA 15.3 and CEA were determined in the serum of 217 patients with early and advanced breast carcinoma. CA 15.3 was high (greater than 30 U/ml) in 1/6 (17%) patients with stage I-II primary tumor, in 4/77 (5%) patients without clinical signs of disease after mastectomy, in 67/102 (65%) patients with advanced disease in progression, and in 13/32 (41%) patients with advanced disease not in progression and undergoing therapy. The corresponding incidences of pathological CEA values (greater than 2.5 ng/ml) were 33, 8, 55 and 14%. The combination of the two markers brings about a certain improvement in the sensitivity for recognising patients with advanced disease in progression (79/102 = 77%). The presence of high values of CA 15.3 is statistically correlated to the prevalent site of metastases (bone and viscera greater than soft tissues). Monitoring the two markers during antitumor therapy in 36 patients showed good accordance (56%) between CA 15.3 changes and response to therapy. The decrease of the marker in patients who achieved partial remission was statistically significant. In conclusion, CA 15.3 is more sensitive than CEA in recognising patients with advanced disease in progression and gives better accordance with the response to therapy. The simultaneous use of the two markers may be useful in the follow-up of operated patients and in monitoring the disease during treatment.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos de Carbohidratos Asociados a Tumores/análisis , Neoplasias de la Mama/sangre , Antígeno Carcinoembrionario/análisis , Antígenos de Neoplasias/análisis , Neoplasias de la Mama/diagnóstico , Femenino , Humanos , RadioinmunoensayoRESUMEN
Ten advanced cancer patients (both with hormone-sensitive and non-hormone sensitive tumors) were treated with high dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP, greater than 500 mg/day). We determined body weight, lean body mass, blood pressure, sodium blood level, urinary excretion, and exchangeable sodium pool by the 22Na method before and after treatment. These data seem to exclude a fluid retentive effect for high-dose MAP.