[Diagnostic value of SCC-TA4 determination in 4 localizations of epidermoid cancers. An experience of the FNCLCC subgroup of radio-analysis]. / Intéret diagnostique du dosage du SCC-TA4 dans quatre localisations de cancers épidermoïdes. Expérience du sous-groupe de radio-analyse de la FNCLCC.

A multicenter and retrospective study of the diagnosis value of SCC-TA4 in squamous cell carcinomas of 4 localisations was made with the 2 thresholds of 2 and 2.5 ng/ml. However, 3.1% of controls have a SCC value above 2.5 ng/ml. Sixteen benign gynecologic pathologies had no positive level. The benign digestive (N = 73), bronchial (N = 345) pathologies and no squamous cell carcinomas (N = 93, N = 220 respectively), had SCC-TA4 mean levels significantly lower than corresponding squamous cell carcinomas (N = 153, N = 128 respectively). Sensitivity of the test varied from 40% in the squamous cell carcinomas of the lung, to 72% in the squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix. Specificity was always very high and varied from 91% in the SCC of lung, to 100% in the SCC of uterine cervix. For the SCC of uterine cervix, oesophagus and head and neck, the mean values and incidence of positive levels increased significantly with increasing tumor size and advancing disease stage. For the SCC of uterine cervix, mean SCC-TA4 levels and percentages of positive levels above 2 ng/ml were significantly higher for the patients with recurrence (22.5 +/- 4.6 ng/ml; 76%) or with metastasis appearance (23.6 +/- 5.4 ng/ml; 77%) than for the patients in remission (less than 1.5 ng/ml; 0%). In the SCC of oesophagus, we report levels before treatment that are significantly higher for the patients with metastasis at the first attempt (4.2 +/- 5.1 ng/ml; 59%), and an elevated SCC level at the diagnosis evoked a SCC of lung already disseminated (8.8 +/- 12.1 ng/ml; 50%) that will fail to respond to treatment (4.0 +/- 4.2 ng/ml; 48%).

[Systematic study of various tumoral markers in prevalent bone metastasis]. / Apport de l'étude systématique de différents marqueurs tumoraux dans les métastases osseuses prévalentes.

In the presence of prevalent bone metastases, the precise histo-pathological diagnosis of the primary tumor is often difficult. The authors study the diagnostic value of systematic serum assay of a series of tumoral tracers (ACE, AFP, PAP and PSA, SCC, CA 19:9, CA 15:3, CA 125) which until now were used in evolutive and therapeutic monitoring. 34 patients were selected for this preliminary retrospective study (including 20 with a demonstrated histopathological diagnosis). 70 p. cent of prevalent bone metastases express a target tracer corresponding to the initial location. In some cases, an elevated tracer, because of its specificity, may bring about a diagnostic or therapeutic decision (always according to the context). No conclusion may currently be drawn in case of discordance between the anatomo-clinical context and the "profile" of the markers (1 case in our series).

Evaluation of prostate-specific antigen in prostate cancer.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was assayed retrospectively in 131 prostate cancer patients. Pretreatment levels at primary tumor diagnosis were above 5 ng/ml in 13/16 (81%) of stage B and C patients and in 28/28 (100%) of stage D (D1 and D2) patients. At the discovery of metastasis in treated patients, they were above this value in 12/17 (71%) of patients. To determine the value of PSA assays when physical exams were negative, 52 patients were reevaluated at a maximum interval of 12 months as a function of their initial PSA concentration. When the initial PSA was negative, there was no clinical evolution during the next 6 months; when PSA was positive, patients had a 55% risk of progression in the next 4 months. All PSA assays were coupled with prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) measurements. No PAP values were positive when PSA was negative.

HPLC micromethod for simultaneous measurement of estradiol, progesterone, androgen and glucocorticoid receptor levels. Application to breast cancer biopsies.

Estradiol (ER), progesterone (PR), androgen (AR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) levels were assayed in 25 breast cancer tumors. The tissue was pulverized and homogenized in buffer, then divided into two parts: one was assayed by the standard dextran-coated charcoal method (DCC), with Scatchard plot analysis, the other was assayed by a micromethod developed in our laboratory, as described below: --incubation of the cytosol with several ligands (labelled and unlabelled) selected to avoid unwanted cross-reactions --DCC separation, followed by extraction of all receptor-bound steroids by precipitation of proteins with methanol/TCA --separation of these steroids on a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) column using a methanol/water solvent --collection of the fractions of the column outlet and counting. Use of three labelled ligands and appropriate unlabelled ligands allowed assays of the four receptors. This micromethod was highly correlated with the standard method: ER = 0.985 (P less than 0.001); PR = 0.999 (P greater than 0.001); AR = 0.989 (P less than 0.001); GR = 0.867 (P less than 0.001). Thresholds of positivity were not modified. This micromethod allowed simultaneous measurement of several receptors in 40 mg biopsy specimens and can be applied to other hormone-dependent tissues.

Value of CA 15:3 in the follow-up of breast cancer patients.

CA 15:3, a new tumour marker detectable by two monoclonal antibodies (115 D 8 and DF 3), was measured by an immunoradiometric technique on the ELSA solid phase. Sixteen percent of patients with localized breast cancer had CA 15:3 levels greater than 25 U ml-1, and levels increased with tumour size. CA 15:3 levels greater than 25 U ml-1 were found in 54% of patients with nodal involvement and in 91% of patients with metastatic breast disease. Measurement of CA 15:3 in 70 women with metastatic breast cancer and a normal CEA revealed positive CA 15:3 levels at diagnosis of the first metastasis in 66% of cases; 63% of these patients could be monitored with CA 15:3.

[Changes in free and total thyroid hormones and reverse T3 in adult male rats during fasting]. / Variations des hormones thyroïdiennes libres, totales et de la reverse T3 chez le rat adulte mâle au cours de jeûne.

The serum levels of thyroid hormones (T3, F.T3, RT3, T4 and F.T4), cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in a population of adult male rats subjected to experimental fasting. Comparison of bindings with results published in the literature reveals certain disagreements attributable to individual variations in the animals resulting from physical or physiological factors. This study demonstrates that deiodination of thyroxine in T3-Reverse has an economic role on a metabolic level. Evaluation of the T3/RT3 ratio appears to provide an indication of the homogeneity of the peripheral metabolism in an experimental population.

Simultaneous micro measurement of steroid receptors in breast cancer.

The oestradiol (RE) and progesterone (RP) receptor levels were analyzed in 26 tumour fragments (200-500 mg) from breast cancer patients. After pulverization of tissue, one part was analyzed by the routine dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) method and the other by a micromethod as follows: (i) cytosol incubation using the DCC method but in the simultaneous presence of [3H]oestradiol and [3H]R5020 (ii) extraction of the steroids bound to the receptor by precipitation with ethanol/TCA (iii) high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a modular system, with a C185 microns column and an elution by gradient mixture methanol/water. The fractions were collected and the radioactivity counted. The separation of oestradiol from R 5020 was rapid and complete. In addition dexamethasone was separated by this system making possible triple measures of RE, RP and glucocorticoid receptors. A highly significant correlation was obtained between the 2 methods: RE = 0.996, P less than 0.001; RP r = 0.975, P less than 0.001, implying that the thresholds of positivity, i.e. for therapeutic decisions, remain unchanged. Simultaneous measurement of RE and RP in a single needle biopsy is possible with this micromethod.

[Polyamines and malignant diseases (author's transl)]. / Polyamines et affections malignes.

The aliphatic polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) are associated with the phenomena of normal and neoplastic cellular growth. Two third of cancers generally show elevated urinary excretion of polyamines. The urinary levels of polyamines are significantly higher in cancer in evolution than in cancer in remission. The variable association of polyamines with different localisations is reviewed. The potential interest of polyamines analysis in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer is discussed. The more exciting application of this test remains in the possibility of a short term appreciation of the oncostatic treatment efficiency.

Residual beta cell function in insulin-dependent diabetes: evaluation by circadian determination of C-peptide immunoreactivity.

Residual beta cell function was evaluated through circadian determination of C-peptide immunoreactivity (CPR) in eighty insulin-dependent diabetics. Evaluation of beta cell activity through circadian CPR determination was in good agreement with the results obtained by glucagon test which is considered a potent stimulus of C-peptide release. The prevalence of residual beta cell function in our population was 35%. Residual beta cell function was associated with a shorter duration of diabetes, a lower dose of insulin therapy and less chronic complications. On the other hand, serum growth hormone circadian variations were more spread in diabetics without beta cell function. That is consistent with diabetes instability which has been reported more commonly insulin-dependent diabetics without beta cell function.

[Beta-2-microglobulin and rheumatoid factor levels in the synovial fluid (author's transl)]. / Bêta-2-microglobuline et facteur rhumatoïde dans le liquide synovial. 85 dosages.

The object of this study was to determine whether levels of beta-2-microglobulin and of rheumatoid factor measured by an enzyme-immunoassay allowed good discrimination between inflammatory and degenerative arthropathies. A multiparametric study of synovial fluid was performed on 85 specimens from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chondrocalcinosis, mechanical arthritis and traumatic arthopathies. A beta-2-microglobulin level of less than 4 mg/l is a result very mich in favor of a non-inflammatory arthropathy (48/49 cases). The quantification of intra-articular rheumatoid factor allows for reclassification in the context of sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis.

C-peptide uptake and excretion by the liver in man.

The hepatic uptake of C-peptide is believed to be negligeable; this, however, is based on indirect evidence. In the present work, C-peptide was measured in four non obese non diabetic men stimultaneously in portal blood and bile. Small amounts of C-peptide were found in bile, compared with portal levels; these data are consistent with a minor role of the liver in C-peptide metabolism but represent a direct demonstration of an extraction of the peptide by the liver in man.

[Study of a kit for the search for HBs antigen by an enzymo-immunological method (author's transl)]. / Etude d'une trousse pour la recherche de l'antigène HBs par méthode enzymo-immunologique.

The authors present a kit marketed by Abbott for searching HBs antigen by an immunological method. This technic of sandwich type included 3 stages. During a first stage, the HBs antigen eventually present was extracted from the biological fluid by a specific antibody adsorbed on a polystyrène bead. After washing, a second specific antibody labelled with peroxidase was added. After incubation and washing, the peroxidase activity of the bead was revealed by adding a chromogenic substrate. The development of a colour indicated the presence of HBs antigen in the biological fluid under study. Very simple to use, this kit permits specific detection of HBs antigen with a sensitivity comparable to that of radio-immunoassay. A good correlation was obtained with the radio-immunological kit Austria II and with the enzymo-immunological kit Hepanostika.

The value of serum alkaline phosphatase alpha 1 isoenzyme in the diagnosis of liver metastases. Preliminary results.

Serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme electrophoresis on cellulose acetate plates in a normal population of 91 controls and 255 cancer patients demonstrates the presence of an isoenzyme alpha 1 in 36 out of39 cases of confirmed liver metastases. In 188 cancer patients without apparent hepatic lesion and with a normal liver biology, the alpha 1 isoenzyme has been found in 45 cases, but 11 presented afterwards confirmed liver metastases. This isoenzyme remained negative in the normal population. Therefore, our results indicate that the alpha 1 alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme may be a useful marker for the biological diagnosis of liver metastases.