Identification and characterization of nuclear matrix protein[s] and assessment of its usefullness for early diagnosis of bladder cancer

The highest incidence rates of bladder cancer are generally found in industrially developed countries, particularly North America and Western Europe, and areas associated with endemic schistosomiasis, including parts of Africa and the Middle East. The appropriate treatment of patients with bladder cancer mandates early detection and regular follow up for recurrences. Currently, cystoscopy is the standard method for diagnosing and monitoring bladder cancer recurrence, but it is an invasive and relatively costly technique, and may sometimes be inconclusive, particularly in cases of cystitis. Western blot and specific immunoglobulin-G antibody were used to identify the urinary NMP marker. Urine samples from 123 patients with bladder cancer and 50 controls were evaluated using the developed SDS-PAGE, Western blot and ELISA. The NMP marker was identified in the urine of patients with bladder cancer at 52 kDa [NMP- 52] by SDS-PAGE, Western blot and ELISA. In addition, the NMP-52 tumor marker was not detected in the urine of patients. Detecting the urinary NMP-52 marker using SDS-PAGE, Western blot and ELISA, would be helpful in the rapid diagnosis of bladder cancer

Lymphocytes DNA content, p53, C-MYC and BCL-2 as predictive markers in childhood with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Cell cycle parameters as well as apoptotic and tumor markers directly control cell growth. DNA ploidy and S phase fraction, apoptosis fraction in addition to apoptotic inducer [p53, c-myc] and antiapoptotic marker [Bcl-2] were investigated in childhood with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] leukemia as a predictive markers represented in survival data. This study included 70 children with [ALL]; 38 males and 32 females; of median age 5 years. Event free survival [EFS] and overall survival [OS] were estimated for all studied cases. Cell cycle and apoptotic parameters as well as p53, c-myc and Bcl-2 were analyzed using FACS caliber flow cytometer in the lymphocyte cells of peripheral blood. Aneuploidy constituted 33% of studied cases. The median overall survival [OS] showed higher significant values when S% was <4.5%, and DNA index was >/= 0.94 and p53 was < 70.87, whereas it showed no significant difference related to G0/G1%, G2/M% and aneuploidy%. The median event free survival [EFS] showed significant higher value at Bcl-2 >/= 81.5 but with no significance related to other cell cycle parameters as well as p53 and c-myc. These data suggest that DNA index, S phase fraction, p53 and BcI-2 may be useful as a predictive markers that help patients' stratification and adjusting protocols of ALL therapy