RESUMO
Antigen tumor markers employed in monitoring therapeutical approaches are limited by their specificity (Sp) and sensitivity (Se). The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of a lipid tumor marker derived from ether-linked phospholipids and to compare it with others usually assayed in clinical practice. Complex lipids from normal and pathological breast, lung, and prostate tissue were isolated and analyzed by TLC and c-GLC methods. Results were compared as pooled samples, or by means of the averaged percent changes with respect to the composition observed in the normal tissue of the same patient. Sp, Se, negative-predictive (NPV) and positive- predictive values (PPV) were established for conventional markers and for the proposed lipid-derived marker. Results demonstrated that the content of monoenoic fatty acyl chains was significantly increased in total lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine, and especially in ethanolamine-containing ether lipids of neoplastic tissues with respect to their corresponding normal ones. Major changes were observed in the plasmalogen sub-fraction where the ratio monoenoic/saturated fatty acids can distinguish with high Se normal tissues from either benign or neoplastic tissues from breast, lung, or prostate lesions. Analyses of fatty acyl chains from ethanolamine-containing plasmalogens provided a reliable tumor marker that correlated with high Se and linearity with metastases spreading. This fact may be useful in prognosis of the most frequently observed human cancers.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais/sangue , Neoplasias/sangue , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Plasmalogênios/sangue , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Etanolamina/análise , Feminino , Humanos , Lipídeos/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Metástase Neoplásica , Plasmalogênios/química , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Prognóstico , Análise de Regressão , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeRESUMO
The aetiology of varicocele is multifactorial although hormonal imbalance and oxidative stress play a key role in the progression of illness. No conclusive evidence has been presented previously, describing the changes in these two factors and the evolution of patients after varicocelectomy. Semen characteristics and hormonal profile were analysed in 36 infertile men with unilateral left varicocele and 33 age-paired controls (proved to be fertile men), after careful inclusion/exclusion selection criteria. Liposoluble and hydrosoluble antioxidants, oligoelements and enzyme activities of the antioxidant defence system were also determined in plasma and erythrocyte from antecubital and spermatic veins, and in spermatozoa. Data were compared between groups at different times before and after varicocelectomy. Decreased levels of liposoluble and hydrosoluble antioxidants and increased activities of the antioxidant defence system enzymes were observed in patients compared with controls. Varicocelectomy normalized this condition at different post-surgical times. Levels of Zn and Se in seminal plasma, protein carbonyls and fragmented DNA remained elevated up to 1 month after surgery. Luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormone concentrations exhibited a biphasic behaviour while testosterone was diminished in patients but normalized soon after varicocelectomy. The results clearly demonstrate the link between the antioxidant defence system, hormonal status and semen characteristics along the post-varicocelectomy period. We suggest that oxidative biomarkers may be appropriate in controlling the evolution of post-varicocelectomy patients, and antioxidant supplementation may improve the clinical condition of infertile men with varicocele.