ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Vitamin D and calcium are involved in a wide range of proliferation, apoptosis and cell signaling activities in the body. Suboptimal concentrations may lead to cancer development. The role of phosphate in cancer metabolism is particularly relevant in breast cancer while, magnesium deficiency favors DNA mutations leading to carcinogenesis. OBJECTIVES: To determine serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and parathormone in female breast cancer patients and to assess their association with some prognostic factors in breast cancer. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study is done on 98 newly diagnosed female breast cancer patients and 49 age matched apparently healthy female volunteers as controls. Serum samples from all patients and controls were subjected to 25-OH Vit D, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and parathormone measurements. RESULTS: In the breast cancer group, the median serum levels of 25-OH Vit D were 15 ng/ml, while it was 21 ng/ml in the control group. Levels of 25-OH Vit D and other tested minerals were significantly lower while calcium:magnesium (Ca:Mg) ratio, and calcium:phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio were significantly higher in the breast cancer group. Significant negative correlation was detected between phosphorus and calcium, ionized calcium , calcium magnesium ratio, and calcium phosphorus ratio. CONCLUSION: It is not only the deficient levels of Vit D and other related minerals, but the combination of the abnormal levels of all the studied parameters that might contribute to the development of cancer. Further studies with larger number of patient are needed.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/blood , Minerals/blood , Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Calcium/blood , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Magnesium/blood , Middle Aged , Parathyroid Hormone/blood , Phosphorus/blood , Prognosis , Vitamin D/bloodABSTRACT
The distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes among Egyptian patients positive for anti-HCV was determined and their influence, when combined with neu-oncoprotein overexpression, on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was examined. The study groups included asymptomatic carriers (ASC) and patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and HCC. HCV genomes were detected in the sera of 27 ASC, 29 CAH and 33 HCC patients known to have HCV infection defined by EIA and recombinant immunoblotting techniques (Inno-LiA) as well as by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. The HCV genotype was determined by a reverse hybridisation technique (Inno-LiPA I and II), whereas neu-overexpression was detected by the Oncogene Science EIA Kit. Eighty-nine patients were eligible for HCV genotyping; 75 patients (84.3%) were infected with a single genotype, including 1a in 11 patients (12.4%), 1b in 2 patients (2.2%) and 2a in 10 patients (11.2%). Genotype 4 (a or c+d) was detected in 51 patients (57.3%) and only one patient had genotype 10a (1.2%). Fourteen patients (15.7%) showed mixed infection; eight of them had 1a+4 (a or c+d) and four had 2a+4 (a or c+d); the remaining two cases had 1a+2a and 1b+2a. The results revealed an increased incidence of genotype 4 in CAH and HCC patients in comparison with ASC. There was also a significant overexpression of neu-oncoprotein in CAH and HCC patients compared with ASC, which was significantly associated with subtype 4 infection. The results suggest that infection with subtype 1a and 4 HCV may be considered a risk factor for the induction of neu-overexpression and subsequent development of HCC.
