Serum annexin A2 levels in patients with colon cancer in comparison to healthy controls and in relation to tumor pathology

BACKGROUND

The deregulation and localization of the Annexins is consistently reported to have close relation to tumor cell malignancy, invasion, and metastasis as well as clinical progression of tumors. This study aimed to evaluate serum Annexin A2 (Anx A2) levels in patients with colon cancer in comparison to healthy controls and in relation to demographics and tumor pathology.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 100 patients (mean (SD) age: 58 (5.8) years, 55.0% females) with colon cancer and 70 controls (mean (SD) age: 59 (5.4) years, 50.0% females) were included. Serum levels for Anx A2 were evaluated in relation to study group, demographics, and tumor pathology.

RESULTS

Serum levels for Anx A2 were significantly lower in patients with colon cancer than in controls (13.1 (4.5) vs. 22.8 (2.1) ng/mL, p<0.001) and significantly decreased with increase in tumor size (p=0.003), and at higher stages of TNM (p=0.004), tumor invasion (p=0.005), lymph node metastasis (p=0.003), and distant metastasis (p=0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate a significant decrease in Anx A2 expression in colon cancer patients compared to healthy controls and in parallel with tumor progression.

Oncostatin-M as a novel biomarker in colon cancer patients and its association with clinicopathologic variables

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative serum oncostatin M (OSM) concentration as a diagnostic marker in colon cancer patients and its association with clinicopathologic variables.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Preoperative serum OSM concentrations were measured in 100 colon cancer patients and 70 healthy volunteers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Serum OSM concentrations were significantly higher in colon cancer patients than in controls (p < 0.001). Serum OSM concentrations increased significantly with higher T stage (p < 0.001) and were significantly higher in patients with increased tumor burden, lymphovascular involvement, and lymph node and distant metastasis (p < 0.001 for each).

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first report showing that elevated OSM concentration was associated with colon cancer and its clinicopathologic variables, including invasion and metastasis. These findings indicate that serum OSM may serve as a novel biomarker in the diagnosis of colon cancer.

The role of preoperative serum levels for Dickkopf-related protein 1 as a potential marker of tumor invasion in patients with stage II and III colon cancer

OBJECTIVES

To determine and correlate preoperative serum levels of CEA and Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1) in stage II and III colon cancer and so identify the patients at high risk for early relapse.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 100 patients with stage II (n = 50; median age: 53 years, 31 males) and III (n = 50; median age: 57 years, 32 males) colon cancer and 50 controls (median age: 53.9 years, 25 males) were included. Serum levels for CEA and DKK-1 were recorded in each subject.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) levels for serum CEA and DKK-1 were significantly higher in stage III patients than in stage II patients and controls (p < 0.001 for each). There was a significant correlation between serum levels of CEA and DKK-1 in stage II (r = 0.71, p < 0.001) stage III (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative serum levels for DKK-1 seem to be a potential marker in prediction of tumor invasion and relapse in stage II-III colon cancer.

Rate of T alleles and TT genotype at MTHFR 677C->T locus or C alleles and CC genotype at MTHFR 1298A->C locus among healthy subjects in Turkey: impact on homocysteine and folic acid status and reference intervals

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is important for folate and homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism. MTHFR 677C->T and 1298A->C MTHFR are two most common mutations which can affect folate and total homocysteine (tHcy) status. This study was designed to determine the rate of MTHFR 677C->T and 1298A->C mutations, and their influence on serum folate, Hcy and vitamin B12 status and the reference intervals in 402 healthy Turkish adults. The rate of MTHFR 677C->T or 1298A->C mutations was 50.7% or 54.7%, respectively. The MTHFR 677C->T mutation-specific reference intervals for serum folate and tHcy were characterized by marked shifts in their upper limits. In homozygote subjects for MTHFR 677C->T serum folate concentration was lower and serum tHcy concentration was higher than those in the wild genotype; all subjects had lower serum folate and 54% of the subjects had higher tHcy concentrations than the cutoff values of <or=10 nmol/L and >or=12 micromol/L, respectively. Serum vitamin B12 status was similar in all genotypes. Serum tHcy concentrations were inversely correlated with serum folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in all genotypes. These data show that the rate of MTHFR 677C->T and 1298A->C mutations is very high in Turks and serum folate and tHcy status are impaired by these mutations.

Active and total ghrelin concentrations increase in breast milk during lactation

AIM

To assess ghrelin status in breast milk and maternal serum for up to 180 days during lactation and to determine relationships between the concentrations of ghrelin in mother's milk and in serum of breastfed infants.

METHODS

Blood and breast milk samples were collected from 159 breastfeeding women enrolled either in the first 3 days, or in days 4-14, 15-30, 31-90 and 91-180 postpartum. Blood samples were also collected from 49 breastfed infants at 4-30 days of age. Milk and serum active and total ghrelin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

Active and total ghrelin concentrations in breast milk were lowest (450 +/- 25 and 880 +/- 80 pg/mL, respectively) at 0-3 days, whereas they increased progressively during 180 days of lactation period to 801 +/- 43 and 3250 +/- 380 pg/mL at 91-180 days postpartum. Milk total ghrelin concentrations correlated with serum concentrations of active (r = 0.503; p < 0.001) and total ghrelin (r = 0.331; p < 0.05) in breastfed infants at 4-30 days of age. In breastfeeding women, serum total ghrelin concentrations increased whereas serum active ghrelin concentrations decreased significantly during the next 4-180 days.

CONCLUSION

Active and total ghrelin concentrations in breast milk increase with time during lactation and show significant relations with serum ghrelin concentrations in breastfed infants.