A new recurring chromosome 13 abnormality in two older patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia: An Indian experience.

We report here two cases of trisomy 13 in acute myeloid leukemia M1 subtype. short-term unstimulated bone marrow and peripheral blood lymphocyte culture showed 47, XY, +13 in all metaphase plates and trisomy 13 was confirmed with whole chromosome paint probes. Trisomy 13 in AML-M1 is a rare numerical abnormality. This is the first Indian report of sole trisomy 13 in AML-M1. Here, we present two cases of elder male patients, which may constitute a distinct subtype.

Clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 in breast cancer.

Background: Invasion and metastasis are the most strenuous problems in the management of breast cancer. These events require diverse proteolytic enzymes, among which MMP-2 and MMP-9 play a significant role in degradation of type IV collagen, the major component of the basement membrane. Therefore, the major objective of the study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of MMP-2 and MMP-9 with respect to malignant tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Gelatin zymography was performed on 157 tissue extracts of malignant and adjacent normal breast tissues as well as negative and positive lymph nodes from 49 breast cancer patients. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical software (version 10). Results: ProMMP-2 levels were significantly higher in adjacent normal tissues. Active MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were higher in malignant breast tissues. Activation ratios of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in malignant breast tissues and in patients with lymph node metastasis. ProMMP-2, active MMP-2, and active MMP-9 could significantly discriminate between malignant and adjacent normal breast tissues. The MMP-2 activation ratio showed significant discriminatory efficacy between patients with and without lymph node metastasis and significant association with increased risk of lymph node metastasis in node-negative patients. Conclusion: The results indicate significant clinical utility of these proteolytic enzymes in malignant tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in breast cancer.

A case of acute myeloid leukemia-M2 with trisomy 4 in addition to t(8;21).

t(8;21)(q22;q22) is the most frequently observed karyotypic abnormality associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), specifically in FAB-M2. Short-term unstimulated bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood lymphocyte culture showed 47,XX, +4,t(8;21) in all metaphase plates; and interphase and metaphase results of AML-ETO fusion was positive and trisomy of 4 was confirmed with WCP probes. Trisomy 4 in AML with t(8;21) is a rare numerical abnormality. Here we present such case of patient which may constitute a distinctive subtype.

Alterations in plasma lipid profile patterns in head and neck cancer and oral precancerous conditions.

BACKGROUND: The changes in lipid profile have long been associated with cancer because lipids play a key role in maintenance of cell integrity. AIMS: The present study evaluated alterations in plasma lipid profile in untreated head and neck cancer patients as well as patients with oral precancerous conditions (OPC) and its association with habit of tobacco consumption. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This hospital-based case control study included 184 head and neck cancer patients, 153 patients with OPC and 52 controls. Plasma lipids including: (i) Total cholesterol, (ii) LDL cholesterol (LDLC), (iii) HDL cholesterol (HDLC) (iv) VLDL cholesterol (VLDLC) and (v) triglycerides were analysed by spectrophotometric kits. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Student's t-test was performed to compare mean values of the parameters. RESULTS: A significant decrease in plasma total cholesterol and HDLC was observed in cancer patients (P=0.008 and P=0.000 respectively) as well as in patients with OPC (P=0.014 and P=0.000, respectively) as compared to the controls. The plasma VLDL and triglycerides levels were significantly lower in cancer patients as compared to the patients with OPC (P=0.04) and controls (P=0.059). The tobacco habituates showed lower plasma lipid levels than the non-habituates. Our data strengthen the evidence of an inverse relationship between plasma lipid levels and head and neck malignancies as well as OPC. CONCLUSION: The lower levels of plasma cholesterol and other lipid constituents in patients might be due to their increased utilization by neoplastic cells for new membrane biogenesis. The findings strongly warrant an in-depth study of alterations in plasma lipid profile in head neck cancer patients.

Importance of glycoproteins in human cancer.

Usefulness of cell surface glycoprotein components as markers in early detection of cancer and in monitoring progress during treatment has been evaluated. Total sialic acid (TSA), lipid bound sialic acid (LSA) and seromucoid fractions (SF) have been compared in the sera of healthy human volunteers and patients at different stages of diagnosis and treatment of leukemia, cancer of breast, cervix, and oral cavity. The levels of TSA, LSA and SF are found to be increased in cancer and is proportionate with malignancy. Their levels show decline in patients who respond well to treatment and show increase in patients with recurrence of cancer even before any clinical evidence of recurrence is available. Changes have also been noted in the glycoprotein fractions and their ratios.

Serum total sialic acid and regan isoenzyme levels in patients with lung cancer.

Serum total sialic acid (TSA), Regan isoenzyme (RI) (heat stable placenta like alkaline phosphatase) and TSA/Total protein (TP) ratio were estimated in 44 cases of Lung cancer using highly specific chemical methods to assess their efficacy as malignancy markers. Levels of the two markers were compared with 27 matched healthy controls. A significant increase (P less than 0.001) in both the bio-markers were compared with 27 matched healthy controls. A significant increase (P less than 0.001) in both the bio-markers was observed compared to controls. TSA/TP ratio was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in lung cancer patients compared to controls. TSA levels were elevated in more cases of patients compared to elevations in RI. Mean values of TSA and RI were higher in epidermoid carcinoma than adeno carcinoma. The use of combination of these markers may be considered in the diagnosis of the disease in future trials.

Efficacy of serum lactate dehydrogenase and its isozymes in monitoring the therapy in patients with acute leukemia.

The pretreatment levels of serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isozymes are measured in 12 cases of Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL) and 8 cases of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and compared with 14 matched healthy controls. Patients showed only first three bands of LDH while normal sera exhibited five bands. A significant increase in total LDH activity was observed in patients of both the groups as compared to controls at the time of admission. The patients were treated with chemotherapy and were followed at 72 hrs. and after 4 weeks. The patients who successfully responded to the therapy showed increased levels of total LDH and LDH2 and LDH3 isoenzymes as early as 72 hrs. after commencement of the therapy. The nonresponders, on the other hand, circulated, decreased or unaltered values of isozymes during this interval. Following them up for a month, ALL responders showed decreased values of total LDH activity, LDH2 and LDH3 activities when compared with their 72 hour values except LDH1. Non responders of this group had practically unaltered values of these isozymes. AML responders circulated decreased values of all the isozymes while AML non responders "showed significant increases in total LDH, and all its isozymes as compared with their 72 hour values. The determination of total enzyme and its isozyme levels at pre, mid and end of treatment seems to be a promising biochemical parameter to predict the early response to chemotherapy administered.

Efficacy of serum sialoglycoproteins as a biomarker of the disease activity & treatment monitoring in patients with base tongue malignancy.

Serum levels of sialoglycoprotein constituents i.e., sialic acid, seromucoid hexoses, and mucoid proteins were determined in 34 patients with base tongue malignancy and 15 controls matched for age and sex. All three constituents were found to be significantly raised; however, only sialic acid levels increased with the severity of the disease. More than 92 per cent of the patients in each clinical stage showed abnormal values of hexoses and mucoid proteins in seromucoids. Electrophoretic separation showed a split in alpha-2-glycoprotein at pretreatment time in 67.6 per cent of the patients. On administration of radiotherapy, all three fractions decreased while alpha-2- split disappeared in 61.8 per cent patients and gamma glycoprotein peak emerged at the end of the protocol with a parallel decrease in these three constituents. It may be concluded from the data that serum sialoglycoproteins can be useful to monitor therapy in base tongue malignancy patients.