Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0242379 (lung cancer)
 71,905 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Interleukin(IL)-2 is a T helper (Th) 1 type cytokine that has been shown to play an important role in antitumour immune responses. In this study, the prognostic significance of serum IL-2 levels was investigated in 60 advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. IL-2 serum levels were determined before chemotherapy, at the end of chemotherapy and during follow-up, using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay kit. The results were analysed according to the response to therapy and were used to generate a model predicting overall survival and time to treatment failure. All 60 patients were shown to have higher IL-2 serum levels than controls (P < 0.0001). Stage IV patients had significantly lower IL-2 levels than stage III patients (P < 0.0001), although they were still significantly higher than controls (P < 0.0001). It is interesting that, when patients were divided into responders and non-responders according to the response to therapy, the former were shown to have significantly higher pre-chemotherapy levels than the latter (P < 0.0001). Moreover, a further significant increase in IL-2 serum levels (P = 0.004) and a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) were shown in responders and non-responders, respectively at the end of the therapy. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, both overall survival and time to treatment failure were shown to be affected by the mean pathological levels of IL-2. Furthermore, the prognostic significance of the serum level of IL-2 was confirmed by the stepwise regression analysis. In conclusion, determination of pre-treatment IL-2 serum levels was shown to be of independent prognostic utility in patients with advanced NSCLC; therefore, its possible use for prediction of outcome is proposed.
 ...
PMID:Behaviour of interleukin-2 serum levels in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients: relationship with response to therapy and survival. 1112 23

Prognostic relevance of serum p53 antibodies was assessed in 96 patients with microscopically proven small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The study group included 67 males and 29 females; mean age 58 years; range 35--86 years; 60 with limited disease (LD), and 36 with extensive disease (ED). The control group consisted of 41 patients with non-malignant diseases. The presence of p53 antibodies was assayed by the immunoenzymatic method (P53 ELISA kit, PharmaCell, France). Antibodies were present in 26 SCLC cases (27%); 15 (25%) in LD and 11 (31%) in ED. Antibodies were also found in one out of 41 control subjects (2%). There was no correlation between the level of antibodies and clinical characteristics of SCLC patients including age, gender and extent of disease. The median follow-up for the entire group was 30 months (range: 11--39 months). By the time of analysis, 78 patients (82%) had deceased. Median survival in SCLC patients with and without antibodies was 42 and 39 weeks, respectively (log rank, P=0.81). These results indicate the lack of clinical relevance of serum p53 antibodies in SCLC.
Lung Cancer 2001 Jan
PMID:Serum p53 antibodies in small cell lung cancer: the lack of prognostic relevance. 1116 62

Fas antigen is a cell surface receptor protein that mediates apoptosis expressed in various cells. In this study Fas expression was examined in cells of patients with lung diseases in which changes in the lung immunology were documented. We have performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in 24 patients with sarcoidosis (8), lung fibrosis (9), primary lung cancer (7), and we compared expression of Fas in BALF cells from all groups and healthy volunteers (6). Fas protein was detected by immunocytochemistry using APAAP technique with an LSAB 2 kit (Dako). Positive reactions for Fas were found in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes (according to the intensity). There were some differences in proportion of positive cells and intensity of reaction between patients with interstitial lung diseases, healthy volunteers as well as patients with lung cancer. Higher expression of Fas in alveolar macrophages was observed in patients with sarcoidosis, lower in patients with lung cancer, lung fibrosis and the lowest in healthy persons. The analysis of Fas antigen expression in the BALF cells may be useful in evaluation of the role of apoptosis in lung homeostasis and pathology.
 ...
PMID:Expression of Fas antigen in the cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). 1118 24

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a monocyte (MO)-derived cytokine that plays an essential role in the immunological system. In the present study our aim was to evaluate the levels of TNF-alpha secreted by MO from cancer patients. Blood MO were obtained from 10 lung cancer patients (LCP), 10 colorectal cancer patients (CCP) and 10 healthy donors (HD). TNF-alpha levels in MO culture supernatants spontaneously (sp) secreted or after stimulation with LPS treatment were evaluated using a commercial ELISA kit (sensibility: 10-1000 pg/ml). Mean values, expressed as pg/ml were: LCP: sp= 452.6+/-107.2, LPS= 589.5+/-126.7); CCP: sp= 84.1+/-25.0, LPS= 437.3+/-93.2; HD: sp= 74.2+/-21.5, LPS= 573.5+/-87.1. We concluded that MO from LCP secrete high levels of TNF-alpha spontaneously (p< 0.003 versus HD) and it was also observed an absence of response to LPS treatment in the 33% of the cases in these patients.
 ...
PMID:Tumor necrosis factor-alfa production by monocytes from lung and colorectal cancer patients. 1137 Aug 33

Six mAbs were raised against human "functionally inactive" recombinant IL-18, ELISA for determination of "functionally inactive" forms of IL-18 were established using two of these mAbs (#21 and #132), and inactive species of IL-18 protein were examined with human blood plasma and macrophages (Mp). In 6-day GM-CSF-treated monocytes, namely Mp, the mAb #21 recognized the IL-18 proform (24 kDa) and a 48 kDa dimer by immunoblotting. In contrast, only the 24 kDa species was detected as a relatively faint band with a commercial mAb against "active" IL-18. No IL-18 species was detected in premature monocytes. Thus, the dimeric IL-18 was produced in Mp and detectable with the mAb we established. In blood plasma of normal subjects and patients, the #21-recognizable IL-18 was also detected by ELISA, the levels of which were not consistent with those obtained with the commercially available kit for determination of "functionally active" IL-18. We designated the former as type 2 and the latter as type 1. Strikingly, IL-18 type 1 was detected in all volunteers while type 2 was detected in approximately 30% of healthy subjects, and the levels of type 2 were high (10-100 ng/ml) compared to those of type 1 (0.02-0.55 ng/ml) in their blood plasma. In patients with atopic dermatitis, the mean value of type 1 was high (200 ng/ml) compared to those of normal subjects (0.122 ng/ml) and patients with lung cancer (0.113 ng/ml). Production of high type 1 may be associated with an immunomodulatory state in atopic dermatitis. The levels and frequencies of IL-18 type 2 were not significantly changed among these populations. Hence, large amounts of type 2 species are produced in monocyte-Mp differentiation, and their levels and frequencies are unchanged in blood plasma irrespective of the levels of type 1.
 ...
PMID:Protein polymorphism of human IL-18 identified by monoclonal antibodies. 1160 32

In a previous study we demonstrated that the incidence of fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-F) was very low in bone marrow primary cultures from the majority of untreated advanced non-small lung cancer patients (LCP) compared to normal controls (NC). For this reason, we studied the ability of bone marrow stromal cells to achieve confluence in primary cultures and their proliferative capacity following four continuous subcultures in consecutive untreated LCP and NC. We also evaluated the production of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by pure fibroblasts. Bone marrow was obtained from 20 LCP and 20 NC. A CFU-F assay was used to investigate the proliferative and confluence capacity. Levels of IL-1beta and PGE2 in conditioned medium (CM) of pure fibroblast cultures were measured with an ELISA kit and RIA kit, respectively. Only fibroblasts from 6/13 (46%) LCP confluent primary cultures had the capacity to proliferate following four subcultures (NC = 100%). Levels of spontaneously released IL-1beta were below 10 pg/ml in the CM of LCP, while NC had a mean value of 1,217 +/- 74 pg/ml. In contrast, levels of PGE2 in these CM of LCP were higher (77.5 +/- 23.6 pg/ml) compared to NC (18.5 +/- 0.9 pg/ml). In conclusion, bone marrow fibroblasts from LCP presented a defective proliferative and confluence capacity, and this deficiency may be associated with the alteration of IL-1beta and PGE2 production.
 ...
PMID:Bone marrow fibroblasts in patients with advanced lung cancer. 1166 57

Great advances have been made in chemotherapy in advanced and metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and a major milestone was reached with the administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage IIIA N2 disease. The systemic nature of lung cancer has been confirmed by many genetic analyses documenting micrometastases in negative lymph nodes and bone marrow, and mRNA gene overexpression as a surrogate of cancer cells has been identified in peripheral blood. Furthermore, serum or plasma cell-free tumor DNA has been observed even in tumors with a diameter of less than 2 cm. Pharmacogenetic screening can lead to tailored chemotherapy even in patients with early disease through the use of a genetic tool kit that will allow us to optimize the use of chemotherapy by using serial measurements of serum DNA that can help to detect residual disease and re-assess the chemosensitivity of sub-clinical micrometastatic disease. The ongoing (neo)adjuvant taxol/carboplatin hope (NATCH) trial is testing the value of three cycles of chemotherapy given pre- or post-operatively compared with surgery alone and will analyze genetic abnormalities in serum DNA at three different points during patient follow-up. Our major concern in this review is to analyze the pros and cons of chemotherapy in NSCLC. Although this review is not a formal meta-analysis, we have discussed the most relevant published studies in this field. We conclude that not only is there no evidence of detrimental effects of chemotherapy, in fact, there are many indications that chemotherapy induces response in up to 80% of patients and downgrades N2 disease in up to 50% of patients. This translates into significantly better survival when accompanied by complete resection. Since at least 50% of patients with stage IB disease develop distant metastases, it seems logical to explore the role of chemotherapy in early disease.
Lung Cancer 2001 Dec
PMID:The role of chemotherapy in early non-small-cell lung cancer management. 1174 Sep 97

We analyzed the ability of the bone marrow (BM) stromal cells to achieve confluence and their proliferative capacity in BM primary cultures from 30 untreated lung cancer patients (LCP), 27 breast cancer patients (BCP), and 30 normal controls (NC) when these confluent cells were induced to proliferate following four continuous subcultures. Moreover, we evaluated the production of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1), fibronectin, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by pure fibroblasts (fourth passage). A fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-F) assay was used to investigate the proliferative and confluence capacity. Levels of IL-1beta, TGF-beta1, and fibronectin in conditioned mediums (CM) of fibroblast cultures were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and PGE(2) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. Confluence was achieved in the 60% of LCP and 78% of BCP primary cultures compared with 100% of NC, and only fibroblasts from seven LCP and six BCP cultures had the capacity to proliferate following four subcultures. Levels of IL-1beta were below 10 pg/ml in both patient groups, while NC had a mean value of 5882.57+/-221.61 pg/ml. Levels of TGF-beta1 in BCP were lower than NC values ( P<0.05). LCP and BCP had significantly decreased levels of fibronectin when compared to NC values ( P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Levels of PGE2 in LCP were higher compared to NC ( P<0.01). In conclusion, BM fibroblasts from LCP and BCP presented a defective proliferative and confluence capacity, and this deficiency may be associated with the alteration of IL-1beta, TGF-beta1, fibronectin, and PGE2 production.
 ...
PMID:Interleukin-1 beta, transforming growth factor beta 1, prostaglandin E2, and fibronectin levels in the conditioned mediums of bone marrow fibroblast cultures from lung and breast cancer patients. 1190 87

Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), most patients still present with advanced stage disease at the time of diagnosis. Recent studies suggest that IL-6 is involved in the development of lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the measurement of IL-6 levels in the breath condensate of NSCLC patients could be used to bring forward the moment of diagnosis and to monitor the progression of the disease. Twenty patients with histological evidence of NSCLC (14 men and 6 women, age 63+/-8 years) and 15 healthy controls (8 men and 7 women, age 45+/-6 years) were enrolled in the study. IL6 was measured in the exhaled breath condensate of patients and controls by means of a specific enzyme immunoassay kit. Higher concentrations of exhaled IL-6 were found in NSCLC patients (9.6+/-0.3 pg/mL) than in controls (3.5+/-0.2 pg/mL). A statistically significant difference was observed between patients with NSCLC at different stages: higher concentrations of IL-6 (10.9+/-0.5 pg/mL) were found in patients with metastatic disease than in those with stage III (9.7+/-0.4 pg/mL), stage II (8.9+/-0.3 pg/mL) and stage I disease (7.9+/-0.3 pg/mL). These findings suggest that the measurement of IL-6 in the breath condensate of patients with NSCLC could be proposed as a parameter to take into account in early diagnosis and disease monitoring.
 ...
PMID:Interleukin-6 is increased in breath condensate of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. 1211 82

In 21 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer subjected to radical surgery followed by 3 cycles of chemotherapy, serum cathepsin B activity and plasma E-alpha 1IP concentration in peripheral blood and tumour arterial and venous blood were studied. Cathepsin B activity was determined by a fluorometric assay. E-alpha 1IP concentration was measured with an ELISA kit. The measurements were performed before surgery, before each chemotherapy cycle and every 60 days after chemotherapy completion, for 2 years. All the patients (n = 21) were divided into 2 subgroups: without metastases n = 16 and with metastases n = 5. There was no significant difference between preoperative serum cathepsin B activity and E-alpha 1IP plasma values in peripheral blood and blood coming from tumour artery and vein. The surgery and chemotherapy caused a statistically significant decrease of serum cathepsin B activity and plasma E-alpha 1IP concentration both in the whole group and in the subgroup without metastases. A significant increase of cathepsin B activity in comparison to initial values was observed 2,5-4 months before cerebral metastasis appeared in the subgroup with metastases. The elevation of E-alpha 1IP concentration preceded the increase of cathepsin B activity in this subgroup. It was not statistically significant. A decrease of cathepsin B and E-alpha 1IP values was observed after cerebral metastasis excision.
 ...
PMID:[Cathepsin B activity and concentration of elastase and alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor complex in non-small-cell lung cancer: 2 year follow-up study]. 1293 16


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>