Carcinoembryonic Antigen Serum Levels in Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Influence of Nanocurcumin and Photodynamic Therapy Using Nanocurcumin in Treatment of Rat Tongue Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through Histological Examination and Gene Expression of BCL2 and Caspase-3

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most common mouth cancer in the world. The aim of the present study is comparing the effects of using Nanocurcumin, and photodynamic therapy (PDT), alone or together in treatment of OSCC in rats.

Methods

Forty Wister male rats were divided into Control (group 1), 650 nm diode Laser only (group 2), Nanocurcumin alone (group 3), and PDT with a combination of laser with Nanocurcumin (group 4). Then, OSCC in the tongue induced by dimethylbenz anthracene (DMBA). The treatments were evaluated clinically, histopathologically, and immunohistochemically through BCL2 and Caspase-3 genes expression.

Results

Positive control with OSCC displayed significant weight loss, while PDT group gained more than nanocurcumin treated groups as well as laser groups comparing with control positive group. The histological examination of the tongue in PDT group showed improvement. In laser group, there were partial loss of surface epithelium with various ulcers and dysplasia and partial improvement by this type of treatment. The tongue in the positive control group showed ulcer in the dorsum surface with inflammatory cells, hyperplasia of the mucosa membrane around the ulcer (acanthosis) with increase of dentition, vacuolar degeneration of prickle cell layer and increase mitotic activity of basal cell layer together with dermal proliferation.

Conclusion

Under the condition of the present study, PDT using nanocurcumin photosensitizer was effective in the treatment of OSCC regarding clinical, histological and gene expression of BCL2 and Caspase-3.

CEA-Regulated Oncolytic Virus Anticancer Therapy: A Promising Strategy for Rare Solid Tumors

BACKGROUND

Rare solid tumors have attracted much more attention due to the great unmet clinical need, limited treatment options, and poor prognosis. As the most thoroughly studied tumor marker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can not only overexpress in various common solid tumors, but also in several rare solid tumors. Oncolytic virus therapy has achieved excellent anticancer effects in the past decades. Due to the specific high expression of CEA in certain tumor tissues, but not in normal tissues, CEA has been applied to improve the tumor specificity of gene expression.

METHODS

The studies of CEA expression in rare solid tumors and CEA-regulated oncolytic virus therapy were reviewed.

RESULTS

We showed the types of rare solid tumors with overexpression of CEA. Elevated serum CEA levels can indicate the diagnosis, response of surgery or system therapy, distal metastasis, recurrence, and survival. Due to high tumor specificity, CEA-regulated OA therapy has demonstrated a surprising antitumor effect for common CEA-positive tumors in preclinical trials Conclusion: These data suggested that CEA could be a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for several rare solid tumors. We proposed the hypothesis that CEA-regulated oncolytic virus therapy could be a promising therapeutic strategy for CEA-positive rare solid tumors.

Altered presence of extra cellular matrix components in murine skin cancer: Modulation by Azadirachta indica leaf extract

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Although, the anticancer potential of Aqueous Azadirachta indica leaf extract (AAILE) has been robustly established against cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in mice, however, its ability in modulating tumor associated extra cellular matrix (ECM) is largely unknown. Therefore, the present study was conceived to explore changes in ECM during murine skin cancer and its chemoprevention by AAILE.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Skin tumors were induced using a two-stage model of carcinogenesis employing topical application of 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) as carcinogen and promoter respectively. AAILE was administered orally to the animals. Male Laca mice were divided into four groups: control, AAILE, DMBA/TPA and AAILE + DMBA/TPA.

RESULTS

The tumors obtained in DMBA/TPA and AAILE + DMBA/TPA groups were histologically identified as SCC. Tumor induction in these groups was accompanied by raised serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels when compared to control counterparts. Assessment of hydroxyproline levels and histochemical staining with sirius red and trichrome stain revealed an increase in collagen in tumors of DMBA/TPA group. An increase in glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) levels was also observed in DMBA/TPA group as made evident by biochemical studies and histochemical staining using mucicarmine and alcian blue-periodic acid schiff's stain. Administration of AAILE to DMBA/TPA treated animals caused a decrease in collagen and GAG levels along with a decrease in serum CEA levels.

CONCLUSION

Skin tumors exhibited altered presence of ECM components which is indicative of a modified ECM. AAILE administration antagonised tumor associated ECM alterations which may be contributing to its chemopreventive activity as reported previously.

Homocysteine Serum Levels as Prognostic Marker of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Thrombosis

BACKGROUND

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication of endstage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of Homocysteine (Hcy) in HCC patient with PVT. Hcy is a sulphur amino-acid involved in two pathways, trans-sulphuration and remethylation, that involve vitamins B6, B12 and folates.

METHODS

We recruited 54 patients with HCC and PVT, 60 patients with HCC and without PVT and 60 control subjects. We measured serum levels of Hcy, folate, vitamins B6 and B12.

RESULTS

The comparison between HCC patients with PVT versus HCC without PVT was shown that mean values of Hcy were 6.4 nmol/L (p<0.0073) higher, LDL cholesterol were 4.8 mg/dl (p<0.0079) lower, vitamin B6 were 4.6 nmol/L(p=0.0544) lower, vitamins B 12 were 22.1 pg/ml (p=0.0001) lower.

CONCLUSION

High serum levels of Hcy are an established thrombotic risk factor in the general population. We found significantly higher levels of Hcy in HCC patients with PVT versus both HCC patients without PVT and controls.

High Carbohydrate 19-9 Antigen Serum Levels in Patients with Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer and Primary Occult Cancer

BACKGROUND

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), despite having a favourable prognosis, present an increased risk of occult malignancies. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the usefulness of the mucinous marker carbohydrate 19-9 antigen (CA 19-9) in the diagnosis of occult cancers. (1) Patients and Methods: This is a case control study in which 480 patients with NMSC and 480 matched control subjects with dermatitis were enrolled; 208 patients with NMSC showed upper-normal CA 19-9 values, and 272 showed under-normal CA 19-9 values. (2) Results: The 208 patients positive for CA 19-9 included 87 with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 121 with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The 272 patients negative for CA 19-9 included 107 with BCC and 165 with SCC. For the SCC patients, CA 19-9 serum levels were significant in 121 of the patients (positive), 66 of which were affected by cancer; CA 19-9 was within the normal range in 165 patients, of which 30 were diagnosed with cancer. In the SCC patients, the CA 19-9 sensitivity was 68%, the specificity was 70%, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 54% (95%) and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 81%. In the BCC patients, the CA 19-9 sensitivity was 70%, the specificity was 66%, the PPV was 48% and the NPV was 83%. In the dermatitis patients (controls), we observed 121 patients that were CA 19-9 positive, with 15 malignancies, and 359 CA 19-9-negative patients, with three malignancies. (3) Conclusions: To confirm the association between CA 19-9 and an elevated risk of malignancies in NMSC, prospective cohort studies should be performed.

Resveratrol reduces inflammation-related Prostate Fibrosis

Inflammation-related prostate fibrosis (PF) is strongly associated with impaired urethral function and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) severity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RSV in patients with small prostate volume and LUTS. Sixty-four patients with PF were randomized either to RSV therapy (group A= 32 patients) or placebo (group B= 32 patients). At baseline (T0) and after 2-months (T2), patients of both groups underwent administration of NIH-Chronic Prostatic Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaires for prostatitis and LUTS, respectively, and Expressed Prostatic Secretion (EPS) assays. After two months, only, group A patients treated with RSV showed significant symptomatic improvement of all NIH-CPSI and IPSS subscale scores, as well as a better EPS assay after prostate massage, in terms of high amount of prostatic volume and reduced white blood cells counts. Our data suggested pharmacological advantage after 2-month treatment with RSV in selected patients with PF for the treatment of voiding and storage complaints.

Sensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by a sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor using MOF-Ce@HA/Ag-HRP-Ab2 as a nanoprobe

Sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor was one of the main methods for detecting carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). In this work, using Ce-MoF as the skeleton precursor, hyaluronic acid (HA) was coated on the surface of Ce-metal organic framework (Ce-MoF), which loaded with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to catalyze H₂O₂ and double amplified the current signal. Thus, a sensitive sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor (Ce-MoF@ HA/Ag-HRP) was designed to detect carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The designed immunosensor used Au NPs to enhance the ability of attach more the first antibody (Ab₁). This was due to Au NPs had good electrical conductivity and biocompatibility to accelerate electron transfer on the surface of the electrode. HA was riched in -COOH, -OH and had excellent biocompatibility, which can carry more Ag NPs to catalyze H₂O₂. Finally, the prepared sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor had excellent biocompatibility and great catalytic performance. The immunosensor can be tested within 30 min and the logarithm of the current signal and CEA concentration showed a broad linear response range of 1 pg ml^-1-80 ng ml^-1, and the detection limit of CEA was 0.2 pg ml^-1. More importantly, the proposed immunosensor had good reproducibility, selectivity, stability and without matrix effect. This confirmed that the proposed immunosensor had broad prospects in early clinical trials.

D-dimer plasmatic levels as a marker for diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein thrombosis

Purpose

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is one of the severe complications of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PVT deteriorates the liver, and its dysfunction increases the risk of bleeding, influencing the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC. The aim of our study was to investigate whether D-dimer testing could be a sensitive marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC patients with PVT.

Patients and methods

Between June 2010 and December 2015, 118 HCC patients were admitted to Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania, and 50 controls were recruited from their relatives for health examinations. All enrolled patients were diagnosed and pathologically confirmed as having HCC. D-dimer was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using 2 monoclonal antibodies against nonoverlapping determinants of D-dimer.

Results

D-dimer levels in HCC patients with PVT were significantly higher vs HCC patients without PVT, P<0.002, and vs controls, P<0.001.

Conclusion

Plasma D-dimer is a sensitive marker of fibrin turnover and allows for the recognition of activated coagulation which may be manifested in HCC with PVT.

The expansion of targetable biomarkers for CAR T cell therapy

Biomarkers are an integral part of cancer management due to their use in risk assessment, screening, differential diagnosis, prognosis, prediction of response to treatment, and monitoring progress of disease. Recently, with the advent of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, a new category of targetable biomarkers has emerged. These biomarkers are associated with the surface of malignant cells and serve as targets for directing cytotoxic T cells. The first biomarker target used for CAR T cell therapy was CD19, a B cell marker expressed highly on malignant B cells. With the success of CD19, the last decade has shown an explosion of new targetable biomarkers on a range of human malignancies. These surface targets have made it possible to provide directed, specific therapy that reduces healthy tissue destruction and preserves the patient's immune system during treatment. As of May 2018, there are over 100 clinical trials underway that target over 25 different surface biomarkers in almost every human tissue. This expansion has led to not only promising results in terms of patient outcome, but has also led to an exponential growth in the investigation of new biomarkers that could potentially be utilized in CAR T cell therapy for treating patients. In this review, we discuss the biomarkers currently under investigation and point out several promising biomarkers in the preclinical stage of development that may be useful as targets.