study into the expression of the tumor suppressor gene p53 and the oncogene bcl-2 in human breast cancer

In this study, the protein expression of the mutant tumor suppressor gene p53, and oncogene bcl-2 was evaluated in 50 female breast cancer patients using two different techniques, ELISA and western blotting, the relation between these two techniques in relation to protein expression was detected, and the correlations between the expression of these two proteins and the different prognostic parameters of cancer breast were studied. The mean value of bcl-2 in breast cancer patients was statistically significantly higher than those of normal healthy controls using both ELISA and western blotting techniques. A significant positive correlation was found between bcl-2 and both the tumor size and the stage of the tumor which signifies its important role as a prognostic factor in breast cancer. Also over-expression of mutant p53 was detected using both ELISA and western blotting techniques when compared to the normal healthy controls. The only statistically significant correlation between mutant p53 expression and the different prognostic parameters of breast cancer was found to be between p53 the stage of the tumor. When taking predictive cut off levels of bcl-2 at 75U/ml, and mutant p53 at 2.16U/ml, bcl-2 showed the highest sensitivity, specificity anti diagnostic accuracy of [88%, 90%, and 90%] respectively, while mutant P53 showed its highest sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy [80%, 100%, and 85.7%] at the chosen cut offs. When done in either abnormal and both abnormal double combinations with the same cut offs, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy in the either abnormal combination have improved than either parameter singly, [92%, 100% and 94.29%] respectively, while in both abnormal combination the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy are [64%, 90% and 71.43] respectively. When studying the correlation between the 2 techniques [ELISA and western blotting] used in determination of bcl-2 and P53 expression in breast cancer patients all samples which showed over-expression for mutant P53 and bcl-2 using ELISA technique, also demonstrated over-expression using western blotting technique. The percent of positive expression the mutant P53 and the bcl-2 proteins were higher [76%] and [88%] respectively using western blotting technique when compared to ELISA technique [70%] and [80%] respectively. The results of both techniques were statistically significantly correlated for both P53 and bcl-2. Although western blotting technique has a higher sensitivity compared to ELISA, it has many disadvantages as cost, reproducibility, time consumption and the requirement for high skills

Significance of telomerase activity, C-erbB2, malondialdhyde and NO as biological markers in urine of bladder cancer patients

At the National Cancer Institute [NCI], Cairo, Egypt, bladder neoplasm constitutes 30% of all cancers. Evaluation of urinary markers may hold a promising method for detection of bladder neoplasms with higher sensitivity and specificity, for follow-up in order to regulate the interval of cystoscopic examination, reduce the burden and discomfort of patients amid enhance the opportunities to excise the tumor preceding muscular invasion. The present study aims to evaluate the possible diagnostic role of telomerase activity, C-erbB2, malondialdehyde and NO in the urine of bladder cancer patients. Eighty urine samples were taken from 3 groups of individuals; 1] Ten healthy age matched control subjects, 2] Twenty schistsoma haematobium infested patients and 3] Fifty pre-operative bladder cancer patients. Urine samples [50mL] were collected and subjected to the assay of telomerase activity in urine [TAU], it was measured by PCR-ELISA technique using the telomerase repeat amplification protocol [TRAP], malondialdehyde and nitric oxide were determined spectrophotometrically and C-erbB2 was measured by ELISA technique. TAU was increased in 72% of bladder cancer cases, it was normal in bilhazial non malignant group compared to controls. Its increase in bladder cancer patients with bilharzial infection was statistically insignificant compared to non bilharzial cancer group. TAU of bladder cancer patients were increased in ascending manner with grades of the tumor [GI = 62.5 +/- 16.7, GII = 66.64 +/- 9.37 and GIII = 163 +/- 51]. Malondialdehyde level was increased in bladder cancer patients with bilharzial infestation than those without bilharziasis, but the difference was statistically insignificant. C-erbB2 expression was increased in 27% of bladder cancer patients; while no single case of the bilharzial group showed positive C-erbB2 expression. As regard the stage of tumor NO level in bladder cancer patients showed statistical significant difference between stage I. II amid stage III [p = 0.04]. There was only a statistically significant positive correlation between telomerase and C-erbB2 in bladder cancer patients [r = 0.456 and p = 0.005]. The study of telomerase activity in the urine of bladder cancer cases may be used as an indicator for early detection of this disease. Further studies should be done to evaluate the possibility of using telomerase as one of the most important tumor markers

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], insulin growth factor- 1 [IGF-1] and DNA flowcytometric analysis in Egyptian Patients with oral squamous cell carainoma

The aim of the present study was to explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], insulin growth factor-1 [IGF-1], DNA-ploidy and S-phase fraction [SPF] in oral squamous cell carcinoma [OSCC] and to evaluate their possible clinic pathologic correlations. Twenty cases as healthy subjects and 30 cases were diagnosed as OSCC with different tumor size, grades and lymph node [LN] metastasis. Blood samples from all cases were collected, centrifuged and serum was assayed for VEGF and IGF-1. VEGF was assayed by ELISA and Western Blot techniques. IGF-1 was determined by immunoradiometric assay [IRMA]. Tumor and normal tissues of the same patient were analyzed by flowcytometry for DNA-ploidy and SPF. The mean level of VEGF in sera of OSCC patients was significantly higher than those of healthy control. Paired t-test between patients with metastasized lymph node and negative ones, showed high VEGF level in lymph node positive subset. ANOVA test showed significantly increased VEGF level with high tumor grade. T-test showed significantly increased VEGF level in patients with tumor size >3 cm in comparing with those of 53 cm. From the results obtained it was concluded that the significant correlation between VEGF and IGF-1 expressions may be helpful to distinguish OSCC patients from the normal individuals. Also, their expressions were correlated with tumor grade. The combined evaluation of ploidy and SPF allows determination of high-risk patients requiring more aggressive therapy

Assessment of some biochemical parameters of the hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C patients

Hepatitis C virus is a major etiological agent associated with the development of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Early detection of HCC in cirrhotic patients can usually be achieved by screening with non invasive techniques such as ultrasound scan and serum alpha-fetoprotein [AFP]. The aim of this study was to determine the plasma levels of immunoreactive matrix metalloproteinase [MMP-9], AFP and basic fibroblast growth factor [FGF] in patients with hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection, liver cirrhosis [LC] and [HCC]. This study included 30 patients with HCV infection, 30 patients with [LC] and 30 patients with HCC. The plasma MMP-9 levels in patients with HCC increase significantly than [LC] group P < 0.05. The plasma AFP levels in patients with HCC were significantly higher than those with hepatitis C group [P < 0.05] and insignificantly higher than those with LC [P > 0.05]. The FGF levels in patients with [LC] were significantly higher than those with [HCV] infection P < 0.01 but FGF level in HCC group increased insignificantly than HCV patients [P > 0.05]