Concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in blood serum of breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Interleukins may stimulate cancer cells growth and contribute to locoregional relapse as well as metastasis. Permanent synthesis and release of these cytokines leads to augmentation of their serum concentration that might be utilized as a marker of immunity status and immune system activation in prognosis and monitoring of the course of cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Therefore, in the present study we assessed the concentration of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in blood serum of breast cancer patients to determine whether it correlates with the disease progression. RESULTS: We showed statistically higher serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in breast cancer patients in comparison with healthy women, which also correlated with clinical stage of breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that elevated IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 serum concentration, are strongly associated with breast cancer and correlate with clinical stage of disease. It was feasible that it can be used to diagnose women with breast cancer and to identify patients with a poor prognosis who may benefit from more aggressive management.

[The value of marker antigens TPS, SCC and CEA in diagnosis, evaluation of histologic type and clinical disease progression in patients with cervical carcinoma]. / Wartosc oznaczania antygenów TPS, SCC i CEA w diagnostyce, ocenie typu histologicznego i stopnia zaawansowania procesu klinicznego u chorych na raka szyjki macicy.

Pretreatment values TPS, SCC and CEA were measured in 84 patients with cervical carcinoma in order to evaluate the usefulness of markers in diagnosis, estimation of the histological type, estimation of stage of disease and grade of cellular differentiation. TPS was raised in 78.4%, SCC was raised in 71.8% and CEA was raised in 32.4% patients with cervical carcinoma. The frequency of increased results and absolute value of TPS and SCC levels showed tendency to significant increase with the stage of disease and to the grade of cellular differentiation. The highest sensitivities TPS and SCC were observed in patients with carcinoma planoepitheliale macrocellulare akeratodes, CEA in adenocarcinoma clarocellulare. These results suggest that TPS especially in the combination with SCC may be useful in the diagnosis and estimation of stage of disease of patients with cervical carcinoma.

[Changes of serum il-6 and CRP after chemotherapy in patients with ovarian carcinoma]. / Zmiany stezenia IL-6 i CRP w surowicy chorych na nablonkowe nowotwory jajnika po leczeniu cytostatycznym.

The levels of IL-6, CRP and TPS were measured in 38 patients with ovarian carcinoma in different histological types and clinical stages. The values IL-6, CRP and TPS were determined before and after chemotherapy. Pretreatment levels of IL-6, CRP and TPS were significantly increased in carcinoma patients relatively to the control group. The frequency of increased results and absolute value of IL-6 and TPS levels showed tendency to significant increase with the stage of disease. The highest values of IL-6 were observed in patients with serous and mucous carcinoma. The levels of IL-6, CRP and TPS were decreased above cut off values in patients with remission, and did not changed in patients with progression and stabilization disease. The results suggest that IL-6 especially in the combination with CRP and TPS may be useful in the diagnosis and the evaluation of therapy of patients with ovarian carcinoma.

[TPS and SCC antigens in diagnosis and monitoring treatment of patients with cervical cancer]. / Antygeny TPS i SCC w diagnostyce i monitorowaniu leczenia chorych na raka szyjki macicy.

DESIGN: The purpose was to evaluate the usefulness of serum TPS and SCC assay for the monitoring radiotherapy of patients with cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 38 patients with cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy were included in this study. The concentrations of TPS and SCC were determined prior to radiotherapy, after radiotherapy, 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy. RESULTS: The increase in TPS levels prior to treatment was observed in serum of 80% women, SCC rose by 71%. The frequency of increased results and absolute value of TPS levels showed tendency to significant increase together with development of disease and degree of histological differentiation. A significant decrease of TPS and SCC level was observed during radiotherapy. The TPS levels decreased above cut-off values in all patients, SCC in 90% patients with remission after radiotherapy. In cases of patients who still had high TPS antigen level after treatment, progression of cancer was found. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that TPS and SCC are useful in monitoring treatment of patients with cervical cancer.

[The value of serum tissue polypeptide specific antigen TPS concentration in therapeutic monitoring of patients with epithelial malignant ovarian neoplasms]. / Wartosc oznaczania stezenia specyficznego polipeptydowego antygenu TPS w surowicy w monitorowaniu leczenia chorych na nablonkowe zlosliwe nowotwory jajnika.

DESIGN: The aim of this study was compare the concentrations TPS and CA 125 in serum 37 patients with ovarian carcinoma in order to evaluate the usefulness of markers in monitoring therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The concentrations of TPS and CA 125 were determined prior to surgery, 1 week after surgery, prior chemotherapy, after 3 and 6 course chemotherapy next every 3 months for the first year and every 6 month for the next 2 years. RESULTS: The concentration of TPS decreased above cutoff values in all patients with remission after 3 course chemotherapy, CA 125 after 6 course chemotherapy. In patients with remission the increase of TPS preceded 3 to 12 months, of CA 125 1 to 3 month the reoccurence of the disease. In of patients with progressive disease the TPS levels decreased during therapy and next rise. CONCLUSIONS: The current observations demonstrate that serial measurements of TPS appear to be useful for the evaluation of therapy and monitoring of patients.

Significance of some tumor markers in differential diagnosis of ovarian tumor.

The levels of CA-125, CA 72-4 and CEA were evaluated in serum of patients with various histological types and clinical stages of ovarian carcinoma and of benign ovarian tumor. An increased CA-125 was found in 8% patients with benign ovarian tumor. The antigens CA 72-4 and CEA exhibit values below the cut-off limit. CA-125 value was significantly elevated in patients with serous and CA 72-4 with ovarian mucinous carcinoma. An increase of CA-125 was found in 81% of patients with serous, 60% with endometrioid and 30% with ovarian mucinous carcinoma. An increase of CA 72-4 was found in 76% of patients with mucinous, 54% with serous and 45% with ovarian endometrioid carcinoma. Insignificant rise of CEA value was found in 8% of patients with serous, 10% with endometrioid and 15% with ovarian mucinous carcinoma. The frequency of increased concentration of antigens level showed a trend to significant increase and a correlation with the clinical stage of disease. The observations allow to conclude that the determination of CA 72-4 in the serum may be useful in differentiation diagnostics of benign and malignant ovarian tumors. The combined determination of CA-125 and CA 72-4 is useful in differentiation of histological types of ovarian tumors and their clinical stage.

Adenosine deaminase activity in blood of patients with stable angina pectoris.

The activity of adenosine deaminases (EC.3.5.4.4) in granulocytes and lymphocytes of patients with stable angina pectoris was lower by about 27% and 24%, respectively as compared with control group, whereas these values in erythrocytes and blood plasma were at the normal level.

5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase activities in blood of patients with unstable angina pectoris.

During ischaemia and hypoxia adenosine is released from cardiac cells. Adenosine is the end product of 5'-nucleotidase activity. We were interested in how this enzyme activity in plasma of patients with unstable angina pectoris, causes short-term ischaemia. 5'-Nucleotidase activity in plasma was determined using a standard diagnostic kit from Sigma. Furthermore, we studied the activity of adenosine deaminase in plasma, granulocytes, lymphocytes and erythrocytes by the methods of Hopkinson [1]. It was found that 5'-nucleotidase activity was increased by about 43% in plasma. The activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in plasma increased by 6%, but in granulocytes, lymphocytes and erythrocytes decreased by about 24, 19 and 10.6%, respectively. We concluded that a large increase in 5'-nucleotidase activity may be caused by activation of 5'-ectonucleotidase in blood cells by ischaemia. However, the decrease in ADA activity in blood cells may be associate with the adenosine metabolism.

The alterations in the activity of amylase and its salivary isoenzyme in the serum of patients with ovarian carcinoma, submitted to radiotherapy.

Total activity of alpha-amylase and its salivary isoenzyme in the serum of patients with ovarian carcinoma of various types were evaluated before radiotherapy, in the middle of radiotherapy period, in the last day and 2 months after radiotherapy. Before radiotherapy the activity of these enzymes were significantly higher in patients with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma. It was found that irradiation resulted in a decrease of both total amylase activity and its salivary isoenzyme in the serum. The proportional participation of salivary isoenzymes in total amylase activity was normalized. It is suggested that the assay of salivary alpha-amylase activity may be useful in the evaluation of radiotherapy effectiveness.

[Changes in activity of alpha amylase and its salivary isoenzyme in serum and urine after surgical treatment of ovarian neoplasms]. / Zmiany aktywnosci alpha amylazy i jej izoenzymu sliniankowego w surowicy i moczu po chirurgicznym leczeniu nowotworów jajnika.

Serum and urinary activity of alpha-amylase and isoamylase salivary was assessed in 40 patients with different types of ovarian cancer. The measurements were performed before surgical procedure and the 7th day after surgical removal of the tumor. Significant increases activity was found in patients with serosal ovarian cancer p < 0.001. On the 7th day after operation the activity of alpha-amylase and her of isoenzyme salivary reached control values.

Red blood cell superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone.

The purpose of this study was to determine superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in erythrocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis treated with ACTH. SOD activity in hemolysates was determined according to the method of Misra and Fridovich and calculated as units per gram of hemoglobin (Hb). CAT activity in hemolysates was determined with Beers and Sizer's method and expressed in IU/g Hb. SOD activity in control group was (1.61 +/- 0.45) x 10(3) U/g Hb whereas, the activity of CAT amounted to (5.88 +/- 1.36) x 10(4) U/g Hb. Before the treatment, SOD activity was decreased by approximately 20% ((1.25 +/- 0.25) x 10(3) U/g Hb) while that of CAT-by about 7.7% ((5.43 +/- 0.68) x 10(4) U/g Hb) in comparison to the normal control. After treatment with ACTH, activity of both enzymes increased: SOD-by about 34.4% to (1.68 +/- 0.38) x 10(3) U/g Hb and CAT-by about 7% to (6.29 +/- 0.55) x 10(4) U/g Hb. Results of investigations showed that ACTH caused an increase in CAT and SOD activities in erythrocytes of patients after three-week treatment.

The activity of alpha-amylase and its salivary isoenzymes in serum and urine of patients with neoplastic diseases of female reproductive organs.

The activities of alpha-amylase and its salivary isoenzymes were evaluated in serum and urine of 59 patients with ovary cancer, 10 women with endometrial carcinoma, 30 patients with cervical carcinoma and 20 women with other (nonmalignant) diseases of females reproductive system. An increased activity of alpha-amylase in serum was found in 39% of patients with ovarium carcinoma and in 23% of patients with cervical carcinoma. The activity of salivary alpha-amylase in serum was elevated in 89% of patients with ovary carcinoma and in 63% of patients with cervical carcinoma and in 20% of patients with endometrial carcinoma. Serum and urine of women with nonneoplastic diseases of reproductive system demonstrates normal values of salivary alpha-amylase activity. These observations allow to conclude that the assay of salivary alpha-amylase may be useful as an additional index in diagnostics of ovary and cervical carcinomas.

Activity of adenosine deaminase in red blood cells of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was studied in red blood cells of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ADA activity in hemolysates was determined according to the method of Hopkinson and calculated as units per g of hemoglobin. Activity of adenosine deaminase in healthy subjects was 0.871 +/- 0.251 U/g Hb. In patients with multiple sclerosis, before treatment ADA activity was 0.765 +/- 0.131 U/g Hb and was about 15.2% lower than in the control group (p < 0.02). After treatment with ACTH, ADA activity increased to 1.005 +/- 0.211 U/g Hb (p < 0.001). We have suggested that increased activity of adenosine deaminase in red blood cells of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis after treatment with ACTH is caused by diminution of superoxide generation, and therefore its sparing effect on cell membrane and enzyme is connected with membranes.

Superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in psoriatic patients treated topically with ointment containing 2-chloroethyl-3-chloropropyl sulfide.

The purpose of this study was to determine dismutase and catalase activities in erythrocytes of psoriatic patients with psoriasis vulgaris topically treated with an ointment (in accordance with recommendations of the Helsinki Declaration), in which 2-chloroethyl-3-chloropropyl sulfide (CLEPS) is an active compound. SOD activity in hemolysates was determined according to the method of Misra and Fridovich [12] and calculated as units per g of hemoglobin. CAT activity in hemolysates was determined by Beers and Sizer method [2] and expressed in U/g Hb. SOD activity in the control group was 1.61 +/- 0.48 U/g Hb x 10(3). However, the activity of CAT was 5.72 +/- 1.17 U/g Hb x 10(4). Before treatment SOD activity was decreased by ca. 22.5% (1.25 +/- 0.53 U/g Hb x 10(3)) while that of CAT by about 7% (5.30 +/- 1.41 U/g Hb x 10(4)), in comparison with the normal control. After treatment with the ointment, activity of both enzymes increased by about 18% to 1.55 x 10(3) U/g Hb and by about 16.5% to 6.25 x 10(4) U/g Hb, respectively. The results of our investigations showed that the ointment (containing mustard gas derivative) applied on psoriatic skin, causes increased of SOD and CAT activity in erythrocytes after regression of psoriatic lesions and treatment termination.

[Factors stimulating release of alpha-amylase]. / Czynniki pobudzajace uwalnianie alfa-amylaz.

The review of the literature on the release of alpha-amylases from pancreas and salivary glands is presented.

The activity of granulocyte alpha-amylase in acute appendicitis.

The activity of alpha-amylase was measured in isolated granulocytes, serum and urine of 35 patients with acute appendicitis. The measurements were performed before operation and on the 7th day after operation. Slightly increased activity of alpha-amylase was found in the serum and urine of 15 patients. On the 7th day after operation the activity of this enzyme reached normal value. The activity of granulocyte alpha-amylase was elevated in 22 patients. In 2 of them the increased activity still maintained on the 7th day after operation. Positive correlation between the serum and granulocyte alpha-amylase activities was found. These observations allow to conclude that granulocytes are the source of increased alpha-amylase activity in the serum of patients with acute appendicitis.

[Activity of granulocytic alpha-amylase in patients with pneumonia]. / Aktywnosc alpha-amylazy granulocytarnej u chorych na zapalenie pluc.

In 35 patients with pneumonia we have tested alpha-amylase activity in isolated blood granulocytes as well in sera as in urines. The received data were compared to the results obtained in 35 healthy control group. Studied has been determined in 1 and 7 day hospitalization. Mean activity of the enzyme in granulocytes of patients was 38% higher than that in the control group. In 34% of subjects studied an increase of the enzyme activity in the serum. The results of above studies indicate that the increased activity of the enzyme in the serum of patients with pneumonia is due to the enzyme activity increase in granulocytes.