[Antioxidant status of patients with primary colorectal cancer and liver metastases of colorectal cancer]. / Potencjal antyoksydacyjny u chorych na pierwotnego raka jelita grubego oraz z przerzutami z raka jelita grubego do watroby.

In the present work we examined selected parameters of antioxidant status in patients with primary colorectal cancer and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer. Total antioxidant status (TAS), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were examined in colorectal primary cancer, liver metastasis of colorectal cancer and in blood serum of patients before and after surgery. It was found that patients have disordered function of the the antioxidant system. This is demonstrated by decreased TAS and changes in the activity of SOD and CAT, both in tumor tissue and blood serum.

[Arginase as a marker of cancerogenesis. III. Comparison of arginase activity with CEA and Ca 19-9 in liver metastases of colorectal cancer]. / Arginaza jako marker procesu nowotworowego. III. Porównanie aktywnosci arginazy z CEA i Ca 19-9 w przerzutach raka jelita grubego do watroby.

Preoperative activity of arginase was determined in blood serum of 86 patients with colorectal liver metastases and compared with the level of CEA and Ca 19-9. Arginase activity was elevated in 94% patients, whereas the levels of CEA and CA 19-9 were higher in 63% and 45% patients, respectively. The number of not detected by each marker cases (false negative) was much lower in arginase determination (only 6%) than in CEA (37s%), and Ca 19-9 (55%). Sensitivity and specificity of arginase test was much higher than these of CEA and Ca 19-9. The combination of CEA or Ca 19-9 with arginase determination improved the sensitivity of either test, but the combined parameters were still lower than these for arginase itself. Obtained results indicate that arginase test demonstrate higher clinical value in the early diagnosis of colorectal liver metastases than CEA and Ca 19-9.

[Usefulness of postoperative assay of arginase activity in blood serum of women after breast cancer resection]. / Przydatnosc pooperacyjnego oznaczania aktywnosci arginazy w surowicy kobiet po resekcji raka sutka.

The usefulness of arginase test was evaluated in follow-up of patients after breast cancer resection. The arginase activity was measured in blood serum of 970 patients from January 1996 to December 2000. The arginase activity above the normal value was detected in serum of 539 (55.6%) women. Only 197 (20%) patients demonstrated metastases and recurrence (true positive), 342 (35%) patients were disease free. The normal value of arginase activity was found in blood serum of 431 (44.4%) patients, 360 (36%) of them showed complete remission, whereas 71 (8%) demonstrated recurrence or metastases (false negative). Sensitivity of arginase test in post-surgery diagnostics of breast cancer was 73%. Measuring of arginase activity in blood serum of patients after breast cancer resection may be useful as an additional test confirming the disease dissemination.

Arginase activity concentration marking in monitoring of hepatocytes function after orthotopic liver transplantation--preliminary report.

The constant growth of a liver transplantations performed in Poland is the primary reason for a search for new, better and more exact methods of graft function assessment. They should give an opportunity of early detection of either perfusion disorders or organ's function deterioration. Thus, the goal of the study was assessment of the usefulness of arginase concentration marking in liver function monitoring after orthotopic transplantation. The group of 5 recipients of orthotopic liver transplants were taken into account. They were performed in 2003, in the Medical University of Warsaw Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery. Patients were qualified for the operation according to standards in the center. The indication for the operation was end-stage liver insufficiency. The average age in the study group was 45,6 years. The patient's serum was taken two hours before the operation. Subsequently, the concentration of arginase activity was marked in serum and bile, first during day 0, 18 hours after the operation, and later at regular intervals during following days until the patient left the clinic, on average from 12 to 14 days. The arithmetical mean values of serum and bile arginase activity values were compared with the average value of a particular parameter, marked during the days following the liver transplant. Serum and bile arginase level fluctuations were assessed in relation to AST, ALT, bilirubin, LDH, alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and gamma gluthamylo transpeptydase GGTP

Clinical significance of arginase after liver transplantation.

Liver graft function after transplantation is dependent on ischemia-reperfusion injury, toxicity of drugs (immunosuppression, antibiotics and other) and transplant rejection. Although routinely monitored with enzymatic tests (AST, ALT, GGT, ALP), bilirubin and coagulation parameters, differentiation between these pathologies is hardly possible without liver biopsy. Arginase (3.5.3.1) mostly exists in the liver and in trace amounts in extra-hepatic tissue. Thus, we hypothesized that activity of arginase could be a more specific test of liver function. Sera of 32 liver transplant recipients were tested for AST, ALT, ATIII, bilirubin and arginase. Samples were obtained daily in first 2 weeks after LTx and weekly afterwards. Correlation of arginase activity with other liver function markers was calculated. Serum arginase peaked at day 1 post LTx (mean 64,6+/-91 IU/L), and decreased more rapidly than other tests if good liver function was observed. The values showed strong and significant correlation with AST and ALT activities (Pearsons R 0,65 and 0,47 respectively). We conclude that activity of arginase in the serum is an exact test of liver function.

[Evaluation of antioxidant status in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma]. / Ocena statusu antyoksydacyjnego u chorych z pierwotnym rakiem watroby.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of the antioxidant system in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Total antioxidant status (TAS), superdoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity was examined in liver primary cancers and in blood serum of patients before and after surgery. In comparison with healthy liver, very low activity of TAS was observed in liver cirrhosis and in primary cancer. High activity of TAS in the blood serum of patients before and after surgery was comparable with TAS activity in blood serum of healthy persons. The highest activity of SOD and CAT was observed in liver cirrhosis. The lowest activity was observed in liver primary cancer. Activity of SOD and CAT in the blood serum of patients before surgery was higher than in the blood serum of patients after surgery. The highest activity was observed in the blood serum of healthy persons. Obtained results shows, that the dysfunction of the defensive antioxidant mechanisms have characterised with not only local disturbances (in the tumour cells region), but also circuital ones (blood). Low levels of the activity of TAS, SOD and CAT in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma indicate to the distortion of the oxidant--antioxidant balance and the decrease of organism antioxidant system efficiency. These observations show at the participation of free radical processes in the tumour pathogenesis.

Arginase in patients with breast cancer.

The mean arginase activity in breast cancers (n = 80) was significantly higher than in control tissues and it accounted for 0.31 +/- 0.23 U/g wet tissue and 0.083 +/- 0.061 U/g (P < 0.05), respectively. With the cutoff value of 0.1 U/g wet tissue, raised arginase activity was observed in 74% of tumors. The preoperative arginase activity in blood serum from women with breast cancer was 11.2 +/- 7.9 U/l (n = 115), and it was significantly higher than in 70 healthy controls, where it was 5.7 +/- 2.4 U/l (P < 0.05). With the cutoff value for normal serum arginase activity above 8.0 U/l, the activity was raised in 10% of control individuals, and in 63% of women with breast cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of the arginase test in blood serum were 63% and 60%, respectively. Two isoforms immunologically identical to human kidney arginases (L-arginine amidinohydrolase) were found in both normal and cancerous breast tissues. The level of anionic form was similar in control and cancerous tissues, whereas the cationic isoform predominated in breast cancer. The cationic isoform was the only one present in serum of both ill and healthy women, and its level was higher in patients with breast cancer. Thus, it can be concluded that the cationic isoform is responsible for the increase of arginase activity in serum of patients with breast cancer.

[Usefulness of preoperative assay of arginase in pancreatic cancer patients]. / Przydatnosc przedoperacyjnego oznaczania arginazy u chorych na raka trzuski.

The utility of new arginase test in detecting of pancreatic cancer was evaluated. The arginase level in blood serum of 72 patients were also compared with the concentration of Ca 19-9 and CEA antigens. Arginase activity was elevated in 60% patients, whereas the level of Ca 19-9 and CEA were increased in 64.5% and 45% patients, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of arginase test and Ca 19-9 were similar, and were much higher then those of CEA antigen. However, antigen Ca 19-9 was more discriminating as compared to arginase test, and combined assessment did not improved the results of Ca 19-9. Arginase test needs further investigations, but it seems, that this cheap and very simple procedure can be useful as an additional tool for detection of pancreatic cancer.

Serum arginase activity in postsurgical monitoring of patients with colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies. In the current work, the role of arginase as a diagnostic marker in patients with recurrent CRC and colorectal liver metastases (CRCLM) was studied. METHODS: Arginase activity was monitored in serum from 40 patients with primary CRC and from 100 patients with CRCLM. Blood was taken before and after patients underwent tumor resection. Studies were conducted for 3 years. RESULTS: Preoperative arginase activity in serum from patients with CRC and CRCLM was much greater compared with the arginase activity in serum from healthy control blood donors. One and two cut-off levels of increased arginase activity were observed in patients with CRC and CRCLM, respectively. After patients underwent tumor resection, the arginase activity decreased to normal values in both patients with CRC and patients with CRCLM. Activity levels remained low in patients who did not develop recurrent CRC or CRCLM (first or second). In patients who developed subsequent recurrences or metastases that appeared after surgery, during 3 years of surveillance, a significant rise in serum arginase activity was observed. The clinical prognosis for patients was worst when the postoperative serum arginase activity was very high, because those patients more often developed second liver metastases or died. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that the determination of serum arginase activity may be a complementary test to confirm the occurrence of CRC and may be useful for the early diagnosis of patients who develop recurrent CRC and/or CRCLM.

[Arginase as a marker of cancerogenesis. I. Monitoring patients after resection of colorectal cancer]. / Arginaza jako marker procesu nowotworowego. I. Monitorowanie chorych po resekcji raka jelita grubego.

Arginase activity in blood serum of 40 patients with primary colorectal cancer determined one day before tumour resection, was almost 5-times higher than that in serum of healthy blood donors. Preoperative increase of arginase activity was observed in 28 out of 40 patients (70%). Six days after tumour resection, arginase activity decreased to the normal value in most studied patients. In 32 patients (86%), the activity remained low during three years of surveillance, and no symptoms of carcinogenesis were observed. However, the postoperative raise of arginase activity was demonstrated in 5 patients--in 3 of them colorectal cancer recurred and 2 developed liver metastases. The increase of arginase activity in blood serum, after resection of primary colorectal cancer, may indicate tumour recurrence or liver metastases. Therefore, monitoring of postoperative arginase activity in patient's serum may be of diagnostic value.

[Arginase a marker of cancerogenesis. II. Monitoring of patients after resection of colorectal liver metastases]. / Arginaza jako marker procesu nowotworowego. II. Monitorowanie chorych po resekcji przerzutów raka jelita grubego do watroby.

Preoperative activity of arginase in blood serum of patients with colorectal cancer metastases to the liver is much higher than in serum of healthy blood donors. Before tumour resection in serum of 100 patients two cut-off levels of arginase activity were observed--in 65 subjects the activity ranged from 10 to 70 U/(group I), and in 35 subjects (group II), from 100 to 200 U/l. The raised arginase activity was observed in 83% of patients from group I, and in all studied patients (100%) from subgroup II. After liver surgery, arginase activity decreased to the normal value in the majority of patients. During three years of surveillance, in 88% and 63% of patients from either subgroup, respectively, no significant increase in arginase activity was observed, and the patients remained cancer-free. However, the rise of arginase activity was demonstrated in 13% and 37% subjects from either subgroup, respectively--the patients developed second liver metastases or died. Metastases and deaths were observed more often in patients from group II than I. The rise in arginase activity in blood serum after resection of colorectal cancer metastases to the liver indicates the possibility of new cancerogenesis. The special group at risk are patients with high (100 or more U/l) preoperative serum arginase activity.