Compartlve study of CA 15-3 and CEA in breast cancer patients

Serum CA 15-3 and CEA values were determined in 77 patients with breast oancer of different stages, 28 non-malignant breast disease and 36 hedlthy women. Increased -preoperative serum CA 15-3 values [> 30 U ml[-l] were observed in 30%, 75% and 91%, serum CEA values [> 3.5 ng ml[-1]] were observed in 17% 35% and 64% of patients with stage II, III and IV disease respectively. In 86% of patients with a single metastasis and 100% of patients with two or more metastases elevated values for both markers were noted. Only 10% of patients with non-malignant disease had elevated serum CA 15-3, 14% of them had elevated serun CEA and non of normal healthy women had elevated levels for both markers. In the postoperative samples, there was significant reduction in 90% of patients for serum CA 15-3 and CEA. In 66% of patients treated by radical radiotherapy there was a notable reduction in both markers one month later. In 58% of patients with metastatic breast carcinoma treated by combination chemotherapy FAC and CMF [in partial remission], there was a detectable reduction in both markers after eight courses. CEA showed parallel behaviour to CA 15-3., At the, time of recurence elevated serum CA 15-3 values were also observed in patients with normal preoperative values. Increased serum CA 15-3 values preceded the clinical detection of tumour recurrence by up to 11 months. In conclusion it is confirmed that serum CA 15-3 levels had reliable prognostic value in breast cancer, reflected the extent of tumour load, response to treatment and the presence of occult metastasis

Intracerebroventricular [ICV] administration of insulin lowers plasma glucose level in the rat

The effect of the central administration of insulin on plasma glucose and immunoreactive insulin [IRI] in normal and diabetic rats has been determined. Insulin [400 muU/kg/5 mul] was injected into the third cerebral ventricle stereotaxically. Blood samples were taken after 10, 30, and 60 minutes from insulin injections by heart puncture. In normal rats, the central administration of insulin significantly lowered plasma glucose level. A significant increase in plasma IRI level was also evident. Intracerebroventricular insulin-induced hypoglycemia was completely blocked by the prior administration of atropine [100 ug/kg i.p.]. In streptozocin [STZ] diabetic rats, intracerebroventricular injected insulin induced a significant fall in plasma glucose, but plasma IRI was not significantly altered. The role of this central action of insulin on plasma glucose regulation was discussed with special reference to other already known mechanisms