Analysis of serum chemerin concentrations in psoriatic patients in relation to metabolic abnormalities.

INTRODUCTION: Recent data depict psoriasis as a systemic disease with many comorbidities, especially metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Chemerin, an adipokine secreted by adipose tissue cells, may prove to be an important link between psoriasis and its comorbidities. AIM: Assessment of serum concentrations of chemerin in patients with psoriasis and the healthy control group as well as evaluation of a possible correlation between adipokine concentrations and selected psoriasis severity indices and metabolic syndrome components. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and two patients with diagnosed psoriasis and 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. In all subjects, serum chemerin concentrations and selected metabolic syndrome components including lipid and glucose levels were determined. Psoriasis severity was assessed using the PASI and BSA indices. RESULTS: A higher concentration of chemerin was demonstrated in the group of psoriasis patients compared to the control group (p < 0.05). A positive correlation between chemerin concentration and C-reactive protein concentration (p = 0.001), body mass index (p = 0.031) and triglyceride concentration (p = 0.043) was found. An inverse correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations (p = 0.015) was also noted. Significantly higher concentrations of chemerin were observed in psoriatic patients with elevated low-density lipoptotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in comparison with patients with normal LDL values (p = 0.032). Chemerin concentrations were also significantly higher in patients with both psoriasis and elevated glucose levels compared to patients with normal blood glucose values (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest a possible role of chemerin as an adipokine linking psoriasis with metabolic syndrome.

The role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PC) is the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumour and the third cause of cancer deaths among men in Europe. The treatment of early-stage PC is very effective and in many cases allows achievement of a complete cure, whereas the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) is still a huge challenge for clinicians. New therapeutic strategies for mPC are urgently needded. One of the most promising methods of treatment is anticancer immunotherapy including the monoclonal antibodies against immune checkpoint inhibitors. OBJECTIVES: To present the potential possibilities of using checkpoint inhibitors blockage in the treatment of mPC, and to overview the results of recent research on immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with PC. STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: Recent studies suggest that monoclonal antibodies directed against immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with traditional therapy may become a breakthrough in the treatment of mPC in the near future. CONCLUSIONS: The immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies against immune checkpoint inhibitors seems to be a new opportunity for patients with advanced PC. The key to achieve the maximum anti-tumour response is to choose the best candidates for this therapy and determine the optimal sequence and combination of drugs. The introduction of immunotherapy as the standard treatment of patients with advanced PC requires further studies.