ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of cytochrome c release and tissue lactate dehyrogenase [LDH] in patients with breast cancer. This study included 90 patients with breast cancer and 35 patients with benign breast lesions. In cytosolic fraction, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol was detected by Western blot, while total LDH activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Tissue LDHA mRNA was assessed by RTPCR. We observed a significant increase in cytochrome c release, LDH activity and LDHA mRNA in patients with breast cancer compared to patients with benign breast lesions. Cytochrome c release was significantly declined in poorly differentiated tumors [grade 3] compared to well-differentiated and moderately differentiated tumors [grades 1, 2]; and in stages III and IV compared to stages I and II of breast cancer. Levels of LDH activity and LDHA mRNA were remarkably elevated in breast cancer patients with grade 3 compared to those with grades 1, 2; and in stages III and IV compared to stages I and II of breast cancer. High levels of LDH activity and LDHA mRNA were detected in breast cancer patients with positive lymph node compared to those with negative lymph node. These data indicate that cytochrome c release, cytosolic LDH activity and tissue LDHA mRNA can be considered as useful prognostic markers in patients with breast cancer
ABSTRACT
Normal and bladder cancer patients urine samples were analyzed by high performance capillary electrophoresis [HPCE] and thin layer chromatography [TLC] to separate and identify their constituents. By HPCE, It was found that the normal urine constituents migrated into two major peaks at 2.1 min. and at 3.3 min. and were detected at 254 nm. Electrophoresing the bladder cancer patients urine at the same wavelength demonstrated three major peaks that migrated at 2.1, 2.7 min and 3.3 min. In order to identify the nature of such peaks, normal and bladder cancer patients urine were electrophoresed at two wavelengths, 214 and 280 nm that detect peptides and proteins, respectively. The peaks migrated at 2.1 min. were detected at 214 nm suggesting their peptide nature. While the peaks migrating at 3.3 min were detected at both 214 and 280 nm indicating their protein nature. The unique peak that migrated at 2.7 min was detected only at 254 nm. It can be concluded that the latter peak contained a molecule that is non-peptide non-protein in nature and is unique to the urine of bladder cancer. Thin layer chromatography was carried out to identify such a molecule. It was shown to be most likely the tryptophan metabolite kynurenine