Correlation between circulating endothelial progenitor cells and serum carcinoembryonic antigen level in colorectal cancer

Circulating Biomarkers for Tumor Angiogenesis: Where Are We?

BACKGROUND

In recent years, several anti-angiogenic drugs have been developed and their addition to standard treatment has been associated with clinical benefits. However, the response to anti-angiogenic therapy is characterized by considerable variability. In this context, the development of dynamic non-invasive biomarkers would be helpful to elucidate the emergence of anti-angiogenic resistance as well as to correctly address the treatment.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this review is to describe current reports on circulating diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers related to angiogenesis. We further discuss how this non-invasive strategy could improve the monitoring of tumor treatment and help clinical strategy.

RESULTS

We discuss the latest evidence in the literature regarding circulating anti-angiogenic markers. Besides growth factor proteins, different circulating miRNAs could exert a pro- or anti-angiogenic activity so as to represent suitable candidates for a non-invasive strategy. Recent reports indicate that tumor-derived exosomes, which are small membrane vesicles abundant in biological fluids, also have an impact on vascular remodeling.

CONCLUSION

Numerous circulating biomarkers related to angiogenesis have been recently identified. Their use will allow identifying patients who are more likely to benefit from a specific anti-angiogenic treatment, as well as detecting those who will develop resistance and/or adverse effects. Nonetheless, further studies are required to elucidate the role of these biomarkers in clinical settings.

Hybrid panel of biomarkers can be useful in the diagnosis of pleural and peritoneal effusions

BACKGROUND

In clinical practice, pleural and peritoneal effusions are usual diagnosis. We evaluated the performance of a hybrid panel of biomarkers in the diagnosis of the main diseases affecting pleura and/or peritoneum.

METHODS

Samples of pleural/ peritoneal fluid from 120 patients were evaluated for: CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen), VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A), PD-L1/B7-H1 (programmed death-ligand 1), NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin), TREM-1 (triggering receptor expressed in myeloid cells type-1) and IFNγ (gamma-interferon) by Luminex®; CALP (Calprotectin) by ELISA, and ADA (adenosine deaminase) by enzymatic deamination.

RESULTS

For malignant effusion (ME) diagnosis, CEA and NGAL presented superior performance than VEGF-A, PD-L1 and CALP. A CEA-NGAL association showed good sensitivity (86.6%) and accuracy (79.2%). For non-tuberculous infectious effusion (NTBIE), NGAL presented the best performance with sensitivity (75.0%), specificity (62.0%) and accuracy (65.0%) higher than TREM-1 and CALP; however, when associated, although with good sensitivity, there was important decrease in specificity. For tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE), IFNy-ADA presented excellent sensitivity (100%), specificity (87.6%), NPV (100%) and accuracies (~90%).

CONCLUSIONS

CEA, NGAL, ADA and IFNy were useful in discriminating ME and TPE. However, for NTBIE diagnosis, the hybrid panel did not demonstrate advantages over the classic parameters.

An update of circulating rare cell types in healthy adult peripheral blood: findings of immature erythroid precursors

Background

Circulating rare cells (CRCs) are benign or malignant minuscule events in the peripheral blood or other bodily fluids. The detection and quantification of certain CRC types is an invaluable or proposed candidate biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of various pathological conditions. The list of CRC types and biomarker applicability thereof continues to expand along with improvements in cell selection technology. Past findings may suggest commonness of healthy donor peripheral blood circulating mature erythroblasts. This work suggests the occurrence of morphologically distinct bone marrow native circulating early erythroid precursors that we intend to add to the list of CRCs.

Methods

We tested 15 healthy individuals that varied in age and gender employing a negative cell selection assay based on magnetic bead technology to characterize healthy adult circulating CD45 negative cell events using cell surface markers CD71 and glycophorin-A.

Results

Positive events were detected and varied in cell and nuclear size ranging between 7.5 µm till 15 µm and 4.5 till 9.2 µm, respectively with distinct appearance under bright field microscope. Cell rarity increased with cell and nuclear size. Largest cells exceeded 13.5 µm in cell diameter and were found in 7 out of 15 donors.

Conclusions

Circulating erythroid precursors occur at different stages of maturation and may be part of the benign CRC spectrum.