Changes in serum lipids in patients with colorectal cancer

To evaluate and assess disruptions of serum lipids at patients having a colorectal cancer. Our prospective study interested 30 patients, from 26 to 93 year old, presenting a colorectal cancer confirmed histologically, examined during the period going from March 2003 to April 2004. Thirty healthy controls were examined in parallel. All patients undergo three blood samples respectively in preoperative, 48h and 6 months after surgical operation. The analyses carried out were determination of a total serum cholesterol, HDL [high density lipoprotein] and LDL [low density lipoprotein] cholesterol, serum triglyceride and serum apoprotein [AI and B]. We noticed a decrease of total serum cholesterol level in 43% of the cases associated to the reduction of the HDL and the LDL cholesterol in respectively 30% and 76% of cases. The mean values of total serum cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol rates were significantly lower for patients compared to those of controls [p respectively: 0.001; 0.04 and 0.001]. Moreover, the level of total serum cholesterol varied significantly with tumor localization [p= 0, 02]. Serum lipid disruptions affect essentially total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol. It would be therefore interesting to evaluate their rate at the basal state in order to follow their evolution after treatment in colorectal cancer

[Deletion polymorphism of glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 in the Tunisian population]

Glutathione S-transferases [GST] play a vital role in cellular defense against environmentally toxic compounds. These enzymes present a genetic deletion polymorphism, which varies with ethnicity. To evaluate the frequencies of homozygous deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in Tunisian population. On the basis of multiplex PCR protocol, the frequency of the deleted genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1gees was evaluated on 145 healthy Tunisian subjects. We found that 34.6% of the individuals had the GSTM1 null genotype, 16.6% had the GSTT1 null genotype and 4.82% had a double deletion of both GSTM1 and GSTT1. The distribution of GSTM1 null in Tunisians is rather in the range of black populations and is lower than that reported in Asians, Arabs and Caucasians. However the frequency of GSTT1 null is the range of several populations studied except Asians. The double deletion frequency seems lower than that described in different populations

[Importance of determination of protein C reactive [CRP], carcinoembryon ic antigen [CEA] and lactic deshydrogenase [LDH] in colorectal cancer]

Evaluate and show the importance of CRP, ACE and LDH in colorectal cancer. Our prospective study interested 30 patients, from 26 to 93 years old and present a colorectal cancer, confirmed histologically, during the period going from March 2003 to April 2004, and 30 healthy controls. A blood sample was collected from each patient respectively in preoperative, 48 hours before any treatment, and 6 months after surgical operation to measure serum LDH, CRP, and ACE. The mean serum of LDH, CRP and ACE values were significant higher in patients than those in controls [p respectively: 0,01; 0,04 et 0,01]. Moreover, the level of three parameters varied significantly with stages of tumor. After follow up, we have noticed e normalisation of the mean of the level of LDH, CRP and ACE with favorable evolution. Analysis of survival at 2 years showers that survival is better in patients with normal value of CRP, ACE and LDH. CRP, LDH and ACE values have a great importance during follows up after colorectal cancer surgery

Serum calcium, phosphorus and protien changes in cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery

To report the serum calcium, phosphorus and protein abnormalities in cancer subjects during abdominal surgery. 41 patients are collected [32 F/9 M] with a mean of age 57.78 +/- 12.7 years, who had undergone abdominal surgery. Serum samples were obtained on the day before surgery and on days 3 and 8 post surgery for measurement of serum total calcium, protein, and phosphorus. The different parameters studied fall significantly at day 3 and increase at day 8 postsurgery in all patients. The means levels of total calcium, phosphorus and protein before surgery are 2,04 +/- 0,2 mmol/l, 1,12 +/- 021 mmol/l and 55 +/- 7 g/l vs 1,9 +/- 0,26 mmol/l, 0,98 +/- 0,18 mmol/l and 50 +/- 8 g/l at day 3 post surgery. Post operative hypocalcemia was attributed to the fall in protein and the decrease in phosphorus may be resulted from renal losses of phosphorus due to extracellular volume expansion

Use of common seric tumor markers in patients with solid cancers

Seric tumour markers [STM] are molecules that theoretically indicate the presence of malignancy, and largery used for monitoring response to therapy and early detection of relapse. This article describes the use and limitations of common SMT in patient with solid tumors. Excepting prostate specific antigen [PSA] and thyroglobulin, STM are not poorly sensitive or specific for screening and diagnosis of cancers. Alpha foetoprotein [AFP] is however used to screen hepatocellular carcinoma in high risk patients with suspect masses. Beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin [beta-HCG] is frequently used for the diagnosis and management of gestational trophoblastic disease, while combined AFP and beta-HCG dosage is a good adjunct in the evaluation and treatment of non seminomatous germ cell tumors. PSA is used for screening and follow up of prostate cancer. Ca 125 is useful for evaluating pelvic masses in postmenopausal women and monitoring response to therapy in women with ovarian cancer, while Ca 15 3 is used to follow response to therapy in patients with breast cancer

[Seric soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisia. Prospective study about 45 cases]

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha [sIL-2Ralpha is a well-known indicator of T-cell activation noted to be increasing in nasopharyngeal cancer. The aims of this study were to evaluate the importance of the use of this marker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Our prospective study interested 45 patients [35M/10F] with a mean age of 49 years [15 to 78], presenting a nasopharyngeal carcinoma histologically confirmed and 61 healthy controls. A blood sample was collected from each patient before any treatment, as well as controls to measure sIL-2Ralpha by immunoenzymatic assay. According to the disease status after a period of follow-up ranging from three to 22 months [median 12 months], patients were divided into two groups: The remission group [n = 28] represented those with favourable evolution and a second group of 15 patients with unfavourable evolution [2 death, 4 cases of persistent primary disease and 9 patients with distance metastasis]. 2 patients were lost to follow-up. serum sIL-2Ralpha levels were significantly higher in patients vs healthy controls [p < 0.0001]. The serum levels correlated with the stage T of NPC [p = 0.01]. Patients having a favourable evolution have lower sIL-2Ralpha levels before treatment vs those with unfavourable evolution without statistical difference. Measurement of serum sIL-2Ralpha provides a good estimation of the nasopharyngeal tumor burden. The usefulness of this marker as a parameter to predict prognosis in NPC should be examined further

[Biological investigation of thyroid cancer]

Thyroid carcinomas represent the most common endocrine malignancy, and several biological markers are proposed according to the different types of this cancer: for papillary cancer, thyroglobulin constitutes an excellent prognostic factor and rearrangements of ret oncogene can be useful in diagnosis. In sporadic medullary carcinoma, calcitonin is a diagnosis marker of choice, and coupled with ACE, can prevent relapse. Regarding familial medullary carcinoma, mutation screening in ret oncogene leads to early detection of new cases