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Bonini S, Eichler HG, Wathion N, Rasi G. Transparency and the European Medicines Agency--sharing of clinical trial data. N Engl J Med 2014; 371:2452-5. [PMID: 25539105 DOI: 10.1056/nejmp1409464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Matteucci C, Sorrentino R, Bellis L, Ettorre GM, Svicher V, Santoro R, Vennarecci G, Biasiolo A, Pontisso P, Scacciatelli D, Beneduce L, Sarrecchia C, Casalino P, Bernardini S, Pierimarchi P, Garaci E, Puoti C, Rasi G. Detection of high levels of Survivin-immunoglobulin M immune complex in sera from hepatitis C virus infected patients with cirrhosis. Hepatol Res 2014; 44:1008-18. [PMID: 24102797 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIM The identification and surveillance of patients with liver dysfunctions and the discovering of new disease biomarkers are needed in the clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate on Survivin-immunoglobulin (Ig)M immune complex (IC) as a potential biomarker of chronic liver diseases. METHODS Serum levels of Survivin-IgM were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay that had been standardized and validated in our laboratory in 262 individuals, including healthy subjects and patients with chronic viral hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RESULTS Survivin-IgM IC was lower in healthy subjects (median, 99.39 AU/mL) than in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (median, 148.03 AU/mL; P = 0.002) or with cirrhosis (median, 371.00 AU/mL; P < 0.001). Among patients with cirrhosis, those with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection showed the highest level of Survivin-IgM IC (median, 633.71 AU/mL; P < 0.001). The receiver-operator curve analysis revealed that Survivin-IgM accurately distinguishes HCV correlated cirrhosis from chronic viral hepatitis (area under the curve [AUC], 0.738; sensitivity, 74.5%; specificity, 70.7%). A multivariate logistic regression model, including Survivin-IgM IC, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and AST/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio increased the prediction accuracy for the identification of the cirrhotic HCV patients (AUC, 0.818; sensitivity, 87.2%; specificity, 65.9%). Conversely, Survivin-IgM IC significantly decreased in HCC patients (median, 165.72 AU/mL; P = 0.022). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that Survivin-IgM immune complex may be used as a potential biomarker for liver damage, particularly for the identification of the HCV-related cirrhotic population.
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Arlett P, Portier G, de Lisa R, Blake K, Wathion N, Dogne JM, Spooner A, Raine J, Rasi G. Proactively managing the risk of marketed drugs: experience with the EMA Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2014; 13:395-7. [PMID: 24751815 DOI: 10.1038/nrd3713-c1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Pignatti F, Ehmann F, Hemmings R, Jonsson B, Nuebling M, Papaluca-Amati M, Posch M, Rasi G. Cancer Drug Development and the Evolving Regulatory Framework for Companion Diagnostics in the European Union. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 20:1458-68. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-1571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Serafino A, Moroni N, Zonfrillo M, Andreola F, Mercuri L, Nicotera G, Nunziata J, Ricci R, Antinori A, Rasi G, Pierimarchi P. WNT-pathway components as predictive markers useful for diagnosis, prevention and therapy in inflammatory bowel disease and sporadic colorectal cancer. Oncotarget 2014; 5:978-92. [PMID: 24657851 PMCID: PMC4011599 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.1571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The key role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in colorectal cancer (CRC) insurgence and progression is now recognized and several therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway are currently in developing. Wnt/β-catenin signaling not only dominates the early stages of sporadic colorectal cancer (SCC), but could also represent the connection between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and increased risk of developing SCC. The knowledge on the sequential molecular events of Wnt-signaling cascade in IBD and during colorectal carcinogenesis, might provide new diagnostic/prognostic markers and could be helpful for optimizing the treatment protocols, thus improving the efficacy of Wnt-targeting therapies. We performed a comparative evaluation of the expression of some crucial molecules participating to Wnt signaling in an animal model of chemically-induced CRC and in human tissues obtained from patients suffering from IBD or at sequential stages of SCC. Specifically, we analyzed upstream events of Wnt signaling including β-catenin nuclear translocation and loss of E-cadherin and APC functions, and downstream events including c-Myc and Cyclin-D1 expression. We demonstrated that these crucial components of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, when evaluated by immunohistochemistry using a multiparametric approach that includes the analyses of both expression and localization, could be potent markers for diagnosis, prevention and therapy in IBD and SCC, also possessing a predictive value for responsiveness to Wnt-targeting therapies. Furthermore, we showed that the animal model of chemically-induced CRC mimics the molecular events of Wnt signaling during IBD and SCC development in humans and may therefore be suitable for testing chemopreventive or therapeutic drugs targeting this pathway.
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Eichler HG, Pétavy F, Pignatti F, Rasi G. Access to patient-level trial data--a boon to drug developers. N Engl J Med 2013; 369:1577-9. [PMID: 24144395 DOI: 10.1056/nejmp1310771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Bonini M, Bachert C, Baena-Cagnani CE, Bedbrook A, Brozek JL, Canonica GW, Cruz AA, Fokkens WJ, Gerth van Wijk R, Grouse L, Hellings PW, Howarth P, Kalayci O, Khaltaev N, Kuna P, Larenas Linnemann D, Nekam K, Palkonen S, Papadopoulos NG, Popov TA, Price D, Rosado Pinto J, Rasi G, Ryan D, Samolinski B, Scadding GK, Schünemann HJ, Thomas DM, Triggiani M, Yorgancioglu A, Yusuf OM, Zuberbier T, Pawankar R, Bousquet J, Bonini S. What we should learn from the London Olympics. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 13:1-3. [PMID: 23222179 DOI: 10.1097/aci.0b013e32835c1b73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Eichler HG, Abadie E, Baker M, Rasi G. Fifty years after thalidomide; what role for drug regulators? Br J Clin Pharmacol 2013; 74:731-3. [PMID: 22369072 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04255.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Rasi G. Straight talk with... Guido Rasi. Interview by Roxanne Khamsi. Nat Med 2012; 18:1725. [PMID: 23223048 DOI: 10.1038/nm1212-1725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Cerreta F, Eichler HG, Rasi G. Drug policy for an aging population--the European Medicines Agency's geriatric medicines strategy. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1972-4. [PMID: 23171092 DOI: 10.1056/nejmp1209034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Serafino A, Moroni N, Psaila R, Zonfrillo M, Andreola F, Wannenes F, Mercuri L, Rasi G, Pierimarchi P. Anti-proliferative effect of atrial natriuretic peptide on colorectal cancer cells: Evidence for an Akt-mediated cross-talk between NHE-1 activity and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2012; 1822:1004-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2012.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2011] [Revised: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Abstract
Hans-Georg Eichler from the European Medicines Agency and colleagues provide a view from regulators on access to clinical trial data.
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Bordignon V, Cordiali-Fei P, Rinaldi M, Signori E, Cottarelli A, Zonfrillo M, Ensoli F, Rasi G, Fuggetta MP. Evaluation of antigen specific recognition and cell mediated cytotoxicity by a modified lysispot assay in a rat colon carcinoma model. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2012; 31:9. [PMID: 22296726 PMCID: PMC3395825 DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-31-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Accepted: 02/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes represent potent effector cells of the adaptive immune response against viruses as well as tumours. Therefore assays capable at exploring the generation and function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes represent an important objective for both clinical and experimental settings. Methods Here we show a simple and reproducible assay for the evaluation of antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes based on a LysiSpot technique for the simultaneous determination of antigen-specific IFN-γ production and assessment of tumor cytolysis. The assay was developed within an experimental model of colorectal carcinoma, induced by the colorectal tumor cell line DHD-K12 that induces tumors in BDIX rats and, in turn, elicits a tumor- specific immune response. Results Using DHD-K12 cells transfected to express Escherichia coli β-galactosidase as target cells, and by the fine setting of spot colours detection, we have developed an in vitro assay that allows the recognition of cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced in BDIX rats as well as the assessment of anti-tumour cytotoxicity. The method highlighted that in the present experimental model the tumour antigen-specific immune response was bound to killing target cells in the proportion of 55%, while 45% of activated cells were not cytotoxic but released IFN-γ. Moreover in this model by an ELISPOT assay we demonstrated the specific recognition of a nonapeptide epitope called CSH-275 constitutionally express in DHD-K12 cells. Conclusions The assay proved to be highly sensitive and specific, detecting even low frequencies of cytotoxic/activated cells and providing the evaluation of cytokine-expressing T cells as well as the extent of cytotoxicity against the target cells as independent functions. This assay may represent an important tool to be adopted in experimental settings including the development of vaccines or immune therapeutic strategies
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Lucibello M, Gambacurta A, Zonfrillo M, Pierimarchi P, Serafino A, Rasi G, Rubartelli A, Garaci E. TCTP is a critical survival factor that protects cancer cells from oxidative stress-induced cell-death. Exp Cell Res 2011; 317:2479-89. [PMID: 21801721 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2011.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Revised: 07/11/2011] [Accepted: 07/13/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) displays growth-promoting and antiapoptotic properties. To gain information on the role of TCTP in cancer disease, we studied the modulation of TCTP and cell survival under stress conditions on tumor cell lines of different origins. When cancer cells were exposed to a mild oxidative stress, such low doses of Arsenic trioxide (ATO) or hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), up-regulation of TCTP was observed in cells survived to the treatment. Differently, a strong oxidative hit provided by ATO combined with glutathione (GSH) depletion or condition of glucose deprivation caused a down-modulation of TCTP followed by cell death. Clones with a forced expression of TCTP or with silenced TCTP were obtained from the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. The sensitivity to oxidative stress was strongly enhanced in down-modulated TCTP cells while decreasing in cells with high levels of TCTP. Together these results indicate that TCTP is a survival factor that protects cancer cells from oxidative stress-induced cell-death. We propose TCTP as a "stress hallmark" that may be exploited as a therapeutic target to decrease the resistance of cancer cells to anticancer therapy.
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Garaci E, Rasi G. A critical evaluation of the process of drug discovery and evaluation: is the current approach the best possible one? ANNALI DELL'ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITA 2011; 47:1. [PMID: 21430329 DOI: 10.4415/ann_11_01_01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Rasi G. A cinque anni dal Decreto sugli studi “non profit”, come eravamo e dove siamo. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.itjm.2010.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Bernabei R, Caputi A, Di Cioccio L, Fini M, Gallo PF, Marchionni N, Marrocco W, Melchiorri D, Mugelli A, Pilotto A, Rasi G, Zuccaro SM. Need for Redesigning Pharmacologic Research in Older Individuals. A Position Statement of the Geriatric Working Group of the Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA). J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2010; 66:66-7. [DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glq179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Matteucci C, Minutolo A, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Palamara AT, Rasi G, Mastino A, Garaci E. Transcription profile of human lymphocytes following in vitro treatment with thymosin alpha-1. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2010; 1194:6-19. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05484.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Russo P, Mennini FS, Siviero PD, Rasi G. Time to market and patient access to new oncology products in Italy: a multistep pathway from European context to regional health care providers. Ann Oncol 2010; 21:2081-2087. [PMID: 20335370 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdq097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM The main purpose of this study was to identify each sequential phase followed by an oncology product, from European assessment until to patient access in each Italian region (IR). METHODS A panel of oncology products approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the period 2006-2008 was considered. The explored sequential phases included the times to market for: the EMA; pharmaceutical companies; the Italian Medicines Agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, AIFA); and IRs as final providers of health care. The IR's time to market was also analyzed by a Cox regression model. RESULTS The overall mean time required before patients access was 2.3 years. EMA accounted for the greater proportion of time (31.8%), followed by AIFA (28.2%). However, the duration for both pharmaceutical companies and IRs was associated with the highest variability. An oncology product authorized with a risk-sharing agreement showed an early access in the IRs. On the contrary, the introduction in IRs having a compulsory formulary was delayed. Both a high forecast of economic impact and a high oncology product price can also delay the patient access. CONCLUSION The process before patient access to an oncology product is time and cost consuming. This study identifies the main predictors that affect the missing overlap between market and patient access in Italy.
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Bonini M, Braido F, Baiardini I, Del Giacco S, Gramiccioni C, Manara M, Tagliapietra G, Scardigno A, Sargentini V, Brozzi M, Rasi G, Bonini S. AQUA: Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes. Development and validation. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41:1034-41. [PMID: 19346984 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e318193c663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite the high and increasing prevalence of allergic diseases in athletes, allergy diagnostics is not part of the routine medical examination in sports medicine. This study reports the development and validation of an easy and reliable questionnaire for screening allergy in athletes. METHODS AQUA was derived from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey Questionnaire. On the basis of open interviews with team doctors, coaches, and athletes, questions were added about: the type, duration, and intensity of training; exercise-related allergic and infectious symptoms; social habits (smoking); drug and food supplements intake; antidoping regulations. The final version of the questionnaire, made of 25 selected questions, was validated in 128 professional soccer players who underwent accurate history taking, medical examination, skin prick testing, and/or specific IgE determination. On the basis of the correlation with objective allergy (positive skin tests to at least one allergen), questions were scored from 1 to 5 according to their positive likelihood ratio. RESULTS Skin tests (gold standard for validation) were positive in 46.8% of soccer players. Mean total AQUA score was 9.4 +/- 7.8 in allergic athletes versus 1.3 +/- 2.3 in nonallergic athletes. A total AQUA score of >or=5 was shown to have the best positive predictive value for allergy (0.94) with a specificity of 97.1% and a sensitivity of 58.3%. CONCLUSIONS AQUA, produced in 10 European languages, is a validated, easy, and reliable tool for calling attention on the high prevalence of allergy in athletes.
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Biasiolo A, Tono N, Beneduce L, Zuin J, Fassina G, Meo S, Paccagnella D, Mazzucco M, Farinati F, Giacomin A, Vanin V, Aldinio MT, Miola E, Donà S, Matteucci C, Sorrentino R, Rasi G, Gatta A, Pontisso P. Osteopontin-Igm as a Marker for the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Biol Markers 2009. [DOI: 10.1177/172460080902400332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Biomarkers for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection are still a clinical need. Recent data indicate that cancer-associated antigens lead to the formation of circulating IgM-linked immune complexes as the result of natural IgM production by the innate immune response. The SCCA-IgM immune complex has already been described for primary liver cancer detection. Osteopontin (OPN) is a member of the SIBLING family of proteins recently shown to be related to tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis in various cancer types. Aim To evaluate the serum levels of the OPN-IgM complex in comparison to the SCCA-IgM complex in patients with HCC. Patients A total of 256 patients were analyzed including 151 patients with HCC (M/F 115/36; mean age ± SD: 67 ± 12 years) and 106 patients with cirrhosis (M/F 68/38; mean age ± SD: 62 ± 12 years). HCC, tested before any therapeutic approach, was mainly of viral etiology (58% HCV, 11% HBV), while alcohol abuse (22%) was the main risk factor for the remaining cases. A similar distribution was found in patients with cirrhosis (46% HCV, 15% HBV, 38% alcohol). Methods Serum levels of OPN-IgM were measured using a homemade ELISA assay with a polyclonal anti-human OPN antibody (Biodesign Int, USA). SCCA-IgM was detected in serum using an ELISA assay kit (Hepa-IC, Xeptagen). Results OPN-IgM was positive in 64/151 (42%) patients with HCC and in 45/106 (42%) patients with cirrhosis (specificity 58%), while the reference biomarker SCCA-IgM showed 35% sensitivity (49/139) and 71 % specificity. When patients were stratified on the basis of etiology, the sensitivity values for OPN-IgM and SCCA-IgM were 51% vs 44% in HCV patients, and 36% vs 23% in the other patients, while the specificity was lower for OPN-IgM (55% vs 69% in HCV patients; 62% vs 72% in the other patients). Combination of the two biomarkers resulted in an increase in sensitivity to 63% for viral etiology and to 40% for nonviral etiology. Conclusion Different IgM-linked biomarkers are detectable in primary liver cancer. OPN-IgM and SCCA-IgM showed a similar behavior, while the combination of these biomarkers increased the diagnostic performance for primary liver cancer.
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Matteucci C, Sorrentino R, Ettorre GM, Bellis L, Antenucci A, Beneduce L, Santoro R, Vennarecci G, Zuin J, Biasiolo A, Pontisso P, Pierimarchi P, Puoti C, Rasi G. Circulating Survivin-IGM is a Novel Candidate Biomarker of Cirrhosis and Increases with Child Score in Patients Affected by Liver Diseases. Int J Biol Markers 2009. [DOI: 10.1177/172460080902400336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background Survivin, also known as BIRC5, is the smallest member of the mammalian IAP family and is a well recognized inhibitor of apoptosis with an important role in cell-cycle regulation. It is detected in fetal and neoplastic adult tissue, but not in normal tissues. Survivin acts on cancer promotion not only by the inhibition of apoptosis but also by acceleration of the proliferative activity of cancer cells and several papers have suggested the involvement of this protein in hepatocarcino-genesis. It has been reported that the detection of HCC biomarkers circulating as IgM immune complexes (ICs) improved the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. The aim of this study was to compare the expression of survivin as an IgM immune complex in serum from healthy controls and of patients with cirrhosis and patients with HCC to identify a novel biomarker for the monitoring of liver diseases. Methods Serum levels of survivin-IgM from 1 97 individuals, including 39 healthy subjects, 94 patients with cirrhosis and 64 with HCC, were measured by ELISA and the relationship with clinical parameters was evaluated. Results Survivin-IgM was almost undetectable in sera from healthy subjects, high in patients with cirrhosis, and moderately lower in patients with HCC. The survivin-IgM assay was positive in 62 of 94 patients with cirrhosis (66%) and in 28 of 64 patients with HCC (43.7%) using a cut-off of 264.89 AU/mL (specificity of 94%). Statistical analysis showed that IC values were significantly different between groups (cirrhosis versus healthy control group, p<0.001; HCC versus cirrhosis group, p<0.001). Circulating survivin-IgM ICs in patients with HCC were lower than in patients with cirrhosis; in fact, the statistical significance in comparison with healthy subjects was lost. On the other hand, the concentration of circulating survivin-IgM ICs was found to increase with progression of Child score. Conclusions The high expression of survivin-IgM in sera from patients with cirrhosis and the values of sensitivity indicate that survivin-IgM could be a novel candidate biomarker for cirrhotic disease. Furthermore, the increase in ICs with the progression of Child score seems to promote the survivin-IgM immune complex as marker of liver failure. Survivin-IgM was found to be lower in sera from HCC patients. Follow-up studies are in progress to monitor patients with cirrhosis and to validate the association of the downregulation of this marker with progression towards hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Castorina A, Tiralongo A, Giunta S, Carnazza ML, Rasi G, D'Agata V. PACAP and VIP prevent apoptosis in schwannoma cells. Brain Res 2008; 1241:29-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2008] [Revised: 05/20/2008] [Accepted: 09/08/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Serafino A, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Andreola F, Zonfrillo M, Mercuri L, Federici M, Rasi G, Garaci E, Pierimarchi P. Stimulatory effect of Eucalyptus essential oil on innate cell-mediated immune response. BMC Immunol 2008; 9:17. [PMID: 18423004 PMCID: PMC2374764 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2172-9-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2007] [Accepted: 04/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Besides few data concerning the antiseptic properties against a range of microbial agents and the anti-inflammatory potential both in vitro and in vivo, little is known about the influence of Eucalyptus oil (EO) extract on the monocytic/macrophagic system, one of the primary cellular effectors of the immune response against pathogen attacks. The activities of this natural extract have mainly been recognized through clinical experience, but there have been relatively little scientific studies on its biological actions. Here we investigated whether EO extract is able to affect the phagocytic ability of human monocyte derived macrophages (MDMs) in vitro and of rat peripheral blood monocytes/granulocytes in vivo in absence or in presence of immuno-suppression induced by the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Methods Morphological activation of human MDMs was analysed by scanning electron microscopy. Phagocytic activity was tested: i) in vitro in EO treated and untreated MDMs, by confocal microscopy after fluorescent beads administration; ii) in vivo in monocytes/granulocytes from peripheral blood of immuno-competent or 5-FU immuno-suppressed rats, after EO oral administration, by flow cytometry using fluorescein-labelled E. coli. Cytokine release by MDMs was determined using the BD Cytometric Bead Array human Th1/Th2 cytokine kit. Results EO is able to induce activation of MDMs, dramatically stimulating their phagocytic response. EO-stimulated internalization is coupled to low release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and requires integrity of the microtubule network, suggesting that EO may act by means of complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis. Implementation of innate cell-mediated immune response was also observed in vivo after EO administration, mainly involving the peripheral blood monocytes/granulocytes. The 5-FU/EO combined treatment inhibited the 5-FU induced myelotoxicity and raised the phagocytic activity of the granulocytic/monocytic system, significantly decreased by the chemotherapic. Conclusion Our data, demonstrating that Eucalyptus oil extract is able to implement the innate cell-mediated immune response, provide scientific support for an additional use of this plant extract, besides those concerning its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and stimulate further investigations also using single components of this essential oil. This might drive development of a possible new family of immuno-regulatory agents, useful as adjuvant in immuno-suppressive pathologies, in infectious disease and after tumour chemotherapy.
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