immunological study of certain tumour markers in breast cancer

One of significant recent advances in cancer diagnosis is the discovery of several soluble tumor associated substances which can be assessed in patients serum. The serum level of carcinoembryonic [CEA] alpha-acid glycoprotein [AG], and complement 3 [C3] are changed following breast carcinoma and such change can be used as a screening test for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The present study included 40 patients with breast disease. They were classified into 2 subgroups; one of them included 20 patients with cancer breast and the other 20 patients with benign tumor. The control group included 20 apparently healthy females of the same age group. CEA was determined in the serum of all cases by enzyme immuno-assay [ELISA]. Ag and C3 were determined by using radial immuno-diffusion technique. Serum CEA, AG and C3 determination in cancer breast showed a significant increase than that of benign lesions and controls. No significant difference was detected in the serum level of AG and C3 between the benign breast lesions and controls, however significant difference was detected in serum CEA level between benign lesions and controls. It is tempting to postulate that serum levels of CEA, AG and C3 may be used as biological markers for diagnosis of breast cancer

Assessment of allergy and immunity in children in relation to tonsillectomy

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of adenotonsillectomy on the immune system and the allergic status of three groups of children. Twenty-one non allergic children and twenty- seven asthmatic children suffering from repeated attacks of sore throat and ten normal school children were included in this study. Immunoglobulins assay [IgA, IgG, IgE] in the peripheral blood total eosinophilic count and allergic skin test were performed to all of them pre and post adenotonsillectomy.A significant drop in B- lymphocyte percentage and serum IgG after tonsillectomy was observed and was attributed to the removal of the septic source of infection and to the reduction in the antigenic load otherwise no significant drop in other serum immunoglobulin not in T and B lymphocyte percentage. Postoperative follow up showed that tonsillectomy when properly indicated improved the general health as well as reduced the frequency of sore throat attacks in the majority of patients even in allergic ones